BY DAN HILDEBRAN
General manager
STARKE— Bradford County Supervisor of Elections Amanda Seyfang said she is looking for election workers to fill a vital role in American democracy.
“Our election workers are the people who run the election on Election Day and early voting too,” she said. “They’re the ones who check IDs, check in voters, issue ballots, make sure ballots are accepted in the tabulators, reconcile totals at the end of the night, and then they give us that information and bring the ballots to us once the polls have closed. So, they’re the heroes of Election Day.”
Seyfang said she needs to fill three jobs at each precinct. The first is the clerk, who runs the operation.
“They’re the ones with the most responsibility and who have to sign off on the most documents,” Seyfang said.
Inspectors do most of the work inside the precinct, like signing voters in, issuing ballots, and ensuring the ballots run through the machines.
“And then you’ve got your poll deputy who is actually sworn in by the sheriff’s office,” she said. “They’re the ones who typically stand outside just to make sure all of the no-solicitation rules are being abided by and to help answer questions or help any voters into the polling place that may need it.”
Seyfang said workers for the minimum-wage positions must attend a four-hour training course and be prepared to work during early voting.
“It’s really good hands-on training for Election Day and especially when we’re so close to answer any questions that might arise,” Seyfang said of early voting.
The main event is an all-day affair from 6 a.m. to at least 7:30 or 8 p.m.
“But polls could always be extended by the governor, and we just don’t know that,” she said. “We do know election days are a long day for people to be working at the polls, but again, it is a very important role for our community.”
People interested in working during elections may call the elections office at 904-966-6266.
