Elections office to host orientation for potential bilingual poll workers

Session to be held at 6 p.m. on May 16 in downtown Sarasota

Signs abound at the Terrace Building in downtown Sarasota during early voting in October 2012. File photo
Signs abound at the Terrace Building in downtown Sarasota during early voting in October 2012. File photo

The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office will host a poll worker orientation session on May 16 for bilingual (English-Spanish) Sarasota County voters who are interested in becoming poll workers, the office has announced.

The session will begin at 6 p.m. in the elections office on the first floor of the Sarasota County Terrace Building, located at 2001 Adams Lane in downtown Sarasota, and it will last approximately one to two hours, a news release says.

The purpose of the orientation is to inform interested individuals about the various poll worker positions and responsibilities and to provide an overview of the basic Election Day procedures, the release adds.

Bilingual individuals are being recruited to work as inspectors and deputies at designated precincts for both the Aug. 30 primary and the Nov. 8 general election, as well as during the early voting period prior to each election, the release points out.

Inspectors check in and issue ballots to eligible voters, monitor voting, explain how to use the voting equipment and offer any other assistance needed, the release adds. An inspector earns $150 per election and $10 per hour during early voting.

“Deputies maintain order outside of their assigned polling places,” the release says. A deputy earns $150 per election and $10 per hour during early voting.

To become a part of the Election Day team, one must be a resident of Sarasota County, a registered voter (or at least 16 years of age and pre-registered to vote), and able to read and write English, the release points out.

For more information and to register for the May 16 orientation, call the poll worker department at 861-8640 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday or email pollworker@SarasotaVotes.com. Seating is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, the release says.