Georgia Counties Seek Tech-Savvy Poll Workers

by Marcia Johnson-Blanco

Following up on one of the main issues seen in the Georgia Primary this year, poll workers having difficulty using the electronic poll books, the Georgia Election Protection Legal Committee met with local election officials in five counties to address the issue. Election Protection leaders used data collected during the February 5^th primary to highlight the urgent need to recruit new and younger poll workers who have a better understanding of new technology. 

After the meeting, election officials in Gwinnett, Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb and Clayton counties announced a partnership with Georgia Election Protection to encourage young people to serve as poll workers.   Their timely action, coming a mere months after Super Tuesday, is one more example of how effective Election Protection can be at solving problems that disenfranchise voters.  

In a press conference on Thursday, May 15^th the counties gathered to “announce an all-out effort to recruit new, technology-skilled poll workers for the upcoming July 15th primary and November 4^th Election Day.” Click here to read the press conference highlights. 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published an article on May 16^th pointing out that “Increasingly, high-tech voting, election officials said, makes the targeted recruitment a smart move. Youths as young 16, though ineligible to vote, can work the polls.”

If you’re interested in becoming a poll worker in Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton or Gwinnett County, go to www.ElectionProtectionGA.org to find the link for the appropriate poll worker application for your county.

Press:

• Press Release from Georgia Election Protection Announcing 5/15 Press Conference
• Press Conference Highlights from Georgia Election Protection (5/15/2008)
• Young people flock to the polls—as workers, Ken Sugiura and Karen Rosen (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 5/19/2008)
  
• Tide of voters may swamp poll workers, S. A. Reid (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 5/16/2008)
• Help wanted: Young, tech-savvy poll workers needed, S. A. Reid (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 5/15/2008)
• 5 Metro Counties Seek Tech Savvy Poll Workers (MyFox Atlanta, 5/15/2008)