Public Service Announcement: Election Workers Needed
You guys know I rarely abuse my position here for something OT, but this is one of those rarelies, because it's important.
My full-time job is MGoBlog, but as I've mentioned a few times on the blog or the pod, on election days I'm an election worker.* And with a presidential primary and presidential election coming up this year you are needed as well, especially if you live in Michigan, and especially if you think you might be from an underrepresented party in your community.
Election work is not partisan--every one of us is there and oathbound to assist the voters--but most of the tasks election workers do require the presence of two parties. Unless your city or township is like 50/50, your clerk's biggest headache right now is probably struggling to match numbers. The better mix of locals, the less those of us willing to travel to another community get asked to do so.
I don't know the rules in other states but in Michigan you do not need to live in the community you would be working--you only have to be an elector in the state of Michigan--though most people work in their home precinct or close to it. If you have high schoolers, in Michigan 16- and 17-year olds may also work elections (they do not have to be electors). I know for a fact this is something that admissions (for at least 1 school) at Michigan notices.
It's not super hard. You do a couple of trainings, learn each station, and whichever one you end up working you'll get the hang of pretty quickly. If you want to be even more useful, sign up to get trained on the Electronic Poll Book (it's no harder than navigating this site) and become a fellow laptop swiper person, because we're always in especial demand.
It is rewarding. Oh is it EVER rewarding! If you've ever wondered how secure our elections are, you'll see for yourself how hard it is to break the system by even one vote. If you've ever despaired that others don't share your patriotic enthusiasm for a strong democracy, it takes less than a day to restore your faith. Then you get a paycheck, and people thank you and stuff, and then you'll look at them quizzically like "Don't thank me; this was actually pretty fun."
I'm recruiting you people specifically because the MGoBlog community is filled with exactly the kind of people** that clerks have been trying to get.*** If you want to look into it, the fastest way is to look up your local clerk. Michigan also has a state portal here: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/pollworker
Also if you happen to be voting at Lone Pine Elementary in February or November, and I'm not obviously helping a voter, come say hi to your precinct co-chair.
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* I don't say "volunteer" because we get paid. I started as an inspector in 2020 because a lot of the older workers couldn't do so during the pandemic. Usually I've been the laptop-having ID-swiper guy, until I got bumped up to precinct co-chair.
** Don't try to argue otherwise--I sell the ads around here, and make a decent living at it by peddling demographic numbers that prove you're more intelligent, patriotic, community-minded, and--importantly for this purpose--remarkably politically balanced.
*** Also it's nice to be working with more Michigan fans, especially when it's the late afternoon downtime in November.)
January 21st, 2024 at 7:38 PM ^
No. You are asked to affiliate with a party. It is not the same thing as registering and it does not have to be one of the two major parties. The actual language:
You must affiliate with a political party. Party registration is not a requirement. Michigan law requires that election inspectors disclose political affiliation to ensure balanced staffing. Affiliating as “independent” or “unaffiliated” is not a legal option for an election inspector.
Hope that helps. Good question. Happy to answer any others.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:46 PM ^
If I, as I do, identify with the Whig party, is there use for a chap like myself?
(I'm not being a dick in this thread, I'm just having fun.)
January 21st, 2024 at 9:33 PM ^
Is it then possible for either side to tip the scales by saying they “affiliate” with one party while actually being registered with the other? Or is there a confirmation process?
January 21st, 2024 at 11:03 PM ^
This is an excellent question. There is not a confirmation process. But there is a screening process (you are checked and they contact you if you seem qualified), and you are placed by the clerk's office. As a newbie you're placed with vets, many of whom have been doing this together for years and know each other well, and most of all are extremely vigilant about the election being fair and accurate. So if you're lying with malicious intent you'd better be a good liar just to make it past training.
Say you do though, what can you actually affect? Very little. You're still with a bunch of Ds and Rs who are focused on serving the voters, and you're still oath bound to do the same, and legally liable if you try to muck something up.
You can do surprisingly little actual damage without getting called out and in huge trouble. Like, we have to know where every ballot is at all times. We know what ballots are at the precinct, which registered voters voted on those ballots, and the numbers have to line up exactly. Voter #3 comes after Voter #2, and ballot #1002 gets issued before ballot #1003, and if touched the EPB computer there's a record of every click and keystroke and card swipe. So what's your plan here?
The parties also send poll challengers to make sure we're all doing exactly what we should be doing. The chairs are watching everything, saving everything. If they catch you lying to a voter or profiling or anything not like you're supposed to, you'll probably be sent home with the promise of a visit to the county.
So at the end of the day either you've either been the perfect election worker, or you got yourself in major trouble without changing anything about the election.
I'm often surprised I can go an entire day and not know everyone's affiliations. On busy elections are all too focused on serving the voters and getting the process exactly right so our numbers are perfect and we can go home earlier. The greeters greet and have voters fill out and sign their voter applications. The EPB team is checking IDs against the poll book of registered voters and issuing ballots with the ballot # tied to the voter. The assist team is taking stubs, collecting used secrecy sleeves, and issuing stickers.
Most things that require 2 parties are done by the chairs, and the rest are done by everyone at the precinct. If you're new the only time your party affiliation really comes up at all is when we are signing up for lunch breaks and the chairs need to maintain the balance when you're gone. Occasionally you may be called over to witness a tag being cut and the numbers read off to match the numbers in the poll book.
The worry isn't someone lying about their alignment, it's an election worker who tries to sabotage something to serve a narrative. What they'll find however is that the process is very hard to undermine, so the only real damage is creating a lot of extra work and testimony for anyone who interacted with them. Again it's worse for the saboteur who's going to jail.
January 21st, 2024 at 11:08 PM ^
I’ve worked as a poll challenger the past two elections. A challenger represents their party and observes what’s going on at a particular precinct, basically making sure the other side doesn’t try to obstruct legitimate voting. 99% of us are bored all day long and have nothing to report to the party at the end of the day. Challengers are volunteers and partisan and we’re the only such people allowed inside the polling place. We are issued credentials by our respective parties that we present to the clerk in charge upon arrival.
I would recommend it. You learn a lot about how elections work.
January 21st, 2024 at 11:20 PM ^
My first election I was so afraid a challenger was going to catch me not looking hard enough at an ID or forget to fold a no-ID affidavit on the corner just so or something and haul me before the news. I've learned there are really only two times they're up out of their chairs: When one of local politicians wanders a foot inside the no campaigning area, and when a voter has to verify an address or something.
January 22nd, 2024 at 12:11 PM ^
I kind of have to get out of my chair to loosen up my old hips and back. I like to step outside every 15 minutes or so to look for illegal signage and/or "watchers" who's real intent is to intimidate voters in a precinct with a heavy lean. Other than that, I'm basically just watching the steady progress and reporting a rough idea of turnout back to the mothership.
In 2020 I worked in a absentee vote counting room. Me and 6 middle-aged ladies opening, unfolding and feeding about 3,500 ballots and most importantly, counting them, sometimes multiple times. I say "me and" but a challenger is not actually allowed to touch the ballots. But I got an exemption a couple times when the counter jammed and I, with enough just office technology under my belt, was able to reach in and pull out the jam. If I hadn't done that we'd have been there all night.
I can't even imagine what Wayne County must have been like.
January 22nd, 2024 at 3:14 PM ^
Curious why you need to affiliate with one of 2 parties and not allowed to be Independent or deviate from the garbage 2-party system.
Stupid.
January 21st, 2024 at 8:12 PM ^
What about 3rd party members? Are they allow to help with elections?
January 21st, 2024 at 9:56 PM ^
We do not care about party affiliation. Not sure about your county.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:23 PM ^
I can answer only for Michigan but here yes, third parties are parties and you just affiliate with one party, no more no less. It has to be a real party but your affiliation doesn't have to be one of the majors.
January 21st, 2024 at 9:02 PM ^
I've been an election worker in Illinois (they call us "election judges" here in IL for some reason) since 2016.
Democracy needs dedicated Americans to step up and answer the call to service.
Thanks for posting this, Seth.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:24 PM ^
Attaboy, Seth! Doing your civic duty. Very patriotic. It's incredibly important and I hope a lot of people follow your lead.
On the partisan/electioneering side: I would also encourage people to volunteer for campaigns to knock doors and work on GOTV stuff for your chosen candidate. It's hard work and can be very not fun (I've knocked in some very cold temps and very hot temps). But, it can be really rewarding and you can have great convos with voters. I'll probably take some time off and knock a few shifts this summer/fall. They say that despite the insane amount of money in politics now, voter-to-voter canvassing is actually the most effective tool in campaigning, which I always found really fascinating. So, don't be afraid to get involved!
January 22nd, 2024 at 10:16 AM ^
They say that despite the insane amount of money in politics now, voter-to-voter canvassing is actually the most effective tool in campaigning, which I always found really fascinating.
I don't want to hijack Seth's thread but the answer to this is 100% true. Ideally if I could put the candidate on every likely voter's doorstep and talk to every voter that's #1. It's just not practical. Too many doors, too little time. But, a nicely coordinated ground game for municipal races can be a game changer. You're absolutely right about the money, and ads, but it starts to become noise. Nothing beats a group of well-intentioned volunteers down to hammer out some turfs. In terms of time/efficacy. Humans talking to other humans, DVC (direct voter contact). Phones are next. Then it starts to get a bit cloudy. SMS/Texts. Direct Mail. Targeted Digital. Broadcast. Etc.
But yes, first things first, humans talking to humans.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:40 PM ^
One overlooked benefit of being an election worker is that you might win a $140 million judgment against a crazy old guy.
January 22nd, 2024 at 5:48 AM ^
I have been an elections official in Michigan (Ypsilanti Township) since 2020. It makes for a long day - but it is very satisfying work - and as Seth pointed out - extremely important. It can seem very difficult to grasp all the laws, regulations and processes that you need to follow - but there is great support. And at the end of the process - you will feel likely feel good about the state of elections. Or at least better!
To sum up..."What Seth said..."
January 22nd, 2024 at 7:40 AM ^
"Don't thank me; this was actually pretty fun."
I actually said that after sitting through a 3-day trial on the jury. It was far more interesting than I had thought it would be... It was also enlightening. I mean, I knew what technology brought to the table because I work in the industry. But seeing it used to convict a murderer... If you commit a crime and are identified, you're fucked. Technology has you locked in.
January 22nd, 2024 at 9:16 AM ^
Seth, I can relate to this topic. I used to think that it was just me putting my ballot in a tabulator and getting my "I voted" sticker from the sweet old lady at the table. I have worked at Detroit Department of Elections and saw all the logistics with equipment, training of poll workers, payment of poll workers, etc., now I encourage people to vote. Let alone that people died for the right to vote, it takes a lot to conduct an election.
January 22nd, 2024 at 9:48 AM ^
They are arresting election folks now. Maybe sometime in the future I will take it up but I'm going to sit this particular one out. Thanks for your service though.
January 22nd, 2024 at 11:58 AM ^
Are you referring to the poll worker in Flint who was drunk? Just don't drink while working the polls and you should be fine.
January 22nd, 2024 at 4:19 PM ^
The only story I heard of an arrested poll worker was a Connor Stalions-level weirdo in Grand Rapids who tried to steal the voter list and reports from the EPB with his own thumb drive. Someone saw him doing it and alerted the county and last I heard he's being prosecuted. Dude thought he was going to get a list and compare it to a FOIA'd list of voters and uncover a conspiracy. Since those computers have to be pure (they're never connected to the internet) they had to get rid of the laptop and do a hand recount of the precinct to make sure the data matched.
So yeah, I guess don't do it if your intent is to commit crimes?
January 22nd, 2024 at 10:02 AM ^
I've "worked in politics" for almost 20 years now running political campaigns from school board all the way up to advising on a gubernatorial, most recently running a couple successful races here in my city. I can say with certainty the people who "work the polls" are some of the nicest most pleasant people I ever interact with in the process. They're civic-minded, well-intentioned people who are there to participate in our democracy and simply help other people vote.
I live in a interesting precinct pocket in our city and there are only ~102 expected likely voters who will vote in our precinct. As a result, the handful of people who work in our precinct are usually overly excited to see anyone wander into the polling location. They're all very friendly. They have a nice selection of stickers at the end of the process that we can choose from. At our previous precinct which was HEAVY seniors, they would put out individually wrapped baked products and "lemonade" (the just add water kind), for people to snack on as they waited in line. It was quaint, especially for being in a 'big city'.
Lastly, just promoting general volunteerism, it's fun (and I know this is paid so it's technically not volunteering) . It's hard to describe the unique feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment that comes from just helping and engaging in our process.
Three thumbs up. Full send agree with Seth. If you have the opportunity, and are even a little bit interested/curious, sign up to participate in an election cycle. It won't change your life, but it's not a bad way to spend a day and its a great experience to have.
January 22nd, 2024 at 10:27 AM ^
I’ve looked into working as a poll worker here in Washington - but they just don’t need very many people as we have 100% mail in/drop off ballots. I can’t even begin to express what a wonderful, easy, and secure system it is. They send a voter information booklet out in advance with candidate information and statements and any initiatives we have to vote on have pro and con arguments from interested parties. I can sit down with my ballot and booklet and thoughtfully fill it out before dropping it off (or mailing it). I know many people who go through it with their kids to increase their interest, hear their kids thoughts, and hopefully encourage civic and voter engagement as they come of age. It’s just fantastic and we never have to “stay in line if you’re already in line” after waiting for 12 hours to vote.
January 22nd, 2024 at 10:46 AM ^
I don't think that it is known how secure it actually is, that is my problem with it. Very few countries actually have a vote-by-mail or drop-off system, and it specifically due to security and possibility of fraud/misuse. In my personal opinion, questions related to the security of vote by mail and ballot drop boxes will persist until most states opt to discontinue it or federal legislation is passed that requires in person voting, with absentee voting allowed in certain circumstances. (I'm not positive that any such federal legislation would be constitutional, however). Mail-in/drop-box voting certainly has its advantages, which you noted, but I think those will be outweighed by continuing questions related to security.
January 22nd, 2024 at 12:14 PM ^
I can only speak for Washington but it's exceptionally secure here (and we've been doing it this way for 20 some years) and it is audited literally after every election - we also have an option to go vote in person in each county if you prefer that or if you think there was an issue with your ballot. Vote by mail/drop off will only continue to expand. In person voting is outdated and onerous which drives down participation - which, unfortunately, many people across the parties actually like in many locations. I'm generally for MORE participation and vote by mail/drop off definitely helps that.
January 22nd, 2024 at 12:53 PM ^
I don't think more or less participation is necessarily "better" or "worse" that the other. I can tell you that the government would much rather have voter apathy and indifference than voter participation, hence the demonization of "populism." But that isn't the point. I think the most important thing is that we put every measure in place to ensure that only legal votes are counted. Obstacles to voting to ensure security may disenfranchise some individual voters, but unsecure elections can disenfranchise every voter.
January 22nd, 2024 at 1:09 PM ^
Agreed, and that's why it's so vital we have election workers whose collective diligence have given us as secure an election as you can find in today's world - voter fraud is vanshingly small in the U.S., as an example there were about 200 potential cases out of the total 3.3 million votes cast in Arizona in 2020, which is like 0.00006060606060606061%
January 22nd, 2024 at 10:11 PM ^
Wait, you’re talking facts and evidence now. Can’t we just stick with the paranoia that there are “questions about security”?
January 22nd, 2024 at 12:27 PM ^
I'm a municipal attorney and can confirm Seth's plea here is based entirely in facts. Cities, townships, villages, any municipal entity you live in throughout the state (likely the country) needs plenty of volunteers for the coming election(s). If you have time and the civic-mindedness that allows you to take an interest in helping keep the wheels of democracy spinning in this country, I would echo Seth's call and ask that you consider reaching out to your local municipal clerk and see where you can get yourself a volunteer spot for this fall.
Thanks, and good luck!