Oct. 14 the deadline to apply
Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner is asking Sarasota County voters to consider being poll workers for the Nov. 3 General Election, his staff announced this week.
“The elections office is recruiting more than 1,000 poll workers needed to support Sarasota County’s 98 voting precincts,” a news release points out.
“It requires a lot of people coming together to administer a countywide election,” Turner said in the release. “My office has 35 full-time employees,” he continued. “They are dedicated professionals, but they can’t staff the 83 Sarasota County polling locations without significant poll worker support.”
Turner did note in the release that Florida law limits how close to an election supervisors of elections can add poll workers. Therefore, the release says, the deadline to apply and be trained for the November election is Wednesday, Oct. 14.
“Recruiting enough poll workers to support a countywide election can be challenging simply because of the large number of individuals needed,” Turner noted in the release. “We create plans, calculations and projections for every election, but with so many moving parts we often find we need a few more,” he added. “It’s like trying to plan 83 parties on the same day.”
Turner also reminds everyone that to be a poll worker, a person must be a registered voter of Sarasota County and be able to read, write and speak English, among other requirements. “He also notes that being a poll worker can be a truly rewarding experience,” the release says.
“Being a poll worker is demanding, and Election Day requires your full attention,” Turner pointed out. “But the satisfaction you experience being a part of the elections process is why we have so many poll workers who come back year after year,” he continued. “And there is the added benefit that all poll workers are paid. That helps, too.”
To learn more about serving as a poll worker and to apply for the position, visit the Poll Worker section of SarasotaVotes.gov or call 941-861-8640.