Holmes County allowing employees to serve as poll workers
Holmes County commissioners recently signed a resolution allowing government employees to work at polling stations while receiving their normal compensation.
In order to present the voting process that allows the people of a county, state or nation to vote, poll workers are needed, and with Holmes County facing a recent glut of poll volunteers, the county may rely on an adaptation designed by the state to allow county employees to work polls in the upcoming November election.
Based on Section 3501.28(F) of the Ohio Revised Code, a county board of commissioners may now permit county employees to serve as precinct elections official (poll workers) on the day of an election without loss of employees’ regular compensation for that day.
The Holmes County Board of Elections has indicated there is a current shortage of poll workers in Holmes County for the 2020 general elections, and the Holmes County commissioners recently signed the resolution to permit county employees to serve as poll workers and to be compensated with regular pay for the 2020 general elections.
For decades, volunteers from the public have manned the polling stations around the county, but recently, fewer people have volunteered for an endeavor that includes a 15-hour day at the polls and taking a class to educate them on what needs to take place at their respective polling places.
“We encourage our local government people to encourage the private sector to get involved with the polling,” commissioner Joe Miller said. “Let them know if they want to be a poll worker, they can contact Lisa or Mary at the Holmes County Board of Elections. Hopefully, we can make some incentive because it is a long day. It’s quite a job, but it is so important.”
Commissioner Rob Ault said there is a greater need than ever for poll workers this year because some voters will opt to remain in their vehicles, meaning poll workers will be assigned to literally take the vote to the people.
Miller said the commissioners are grateful for the board of elections team that has helped the county’s electoral process run so smoothly over the years.
“We’ve got great election people here, and we have not had any problems with elections,” Miller said. “They do a real nice job over there.”
According to the new resolution, any employee who is a registered voter of Holmes County and meets other requirements established by law and the Holmes County Board of Elections may request poll worker leave and pay for the purpose of serving as a poll worker on Nov. 3.
Prior to contacting the board of elections to register as a poll worker, an employee must obtain written authorization for paid leave from his or her appointing authority or its designee. Paid leave to serve as a poll worker shall be limited to the date of the election. In the event an employee is required to attend poll worker training during his or her work hours, the employee shall make a prior request and obtain authorization for leave with vacation, personal or compensatory pay.
The board of elections reserves the right to refuse to place an employee with prior approval for poll worker leave if the employee’s services are not needed on election day. In such an instance, the employee must report to work during the employee’s regular work hours. The board of elections may give priority to employees who have served as poll workers in prior elections.
An employee working at the polls must work the entire day to receive poll worker leave pay. If an employee does not fulfill at least the number of hours the employee would have normally been scheduled to work, the employee must use other accumulated leave time as deemed appropriate for the hours not worked as a precinct election official.