Help Needed for June Primary Election
Citizens can earn extra money and serve their communities by working at the polls on Election Day, June 5, 2012. Election officials are currently recruiting qualified persons to staff the 130 voting precincts to be located throughout the county on June 5.
To serve in the polls, a person must be a registered voter or must be a high school student, age 16 or older, who is a U.S. citizen, with at least a 2.5 grade point average.
Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Poll workers must report to duty an hour prior to opening the polls and must stay two or more hours after the polls close to prepare the equipment and election materials for return to the central counting location. Poll workers are provided breaks throughout the day.
Poll workers are paid $75 for clerks and $100 for inspectors, plus an additional $20 for attending the training class if they complete their service at the polls. Many service organizations use this as a great way to raise money for scholarships or other programs.
In the county’s 130 voting precincts for the June election, one inspector is required and two or more clerks for each polling place. In addition, one person must be certified as an Electronic Voting Specialist. Persons who speak Spanish are especially needed.
Poll worker duties include attending a 2-hour training class held in advance of the election, setting up the polling place on Election Day, opening the polls, assisting voters, closing the polls, certifying the work completed, and delivering election materials to the election return center.
Polling places are located at schools, churches, parks, libraries, fire stations, local businesses, and other public places throughout Santa Cruz County.
For more information or to apply, call Heather Kennedy at the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections Department, at 831-454-2416, e-mail her at heather.kennedy@co.santa-cruz.ca.us, or call Jana Vargas at 831-454-5135 or email her at jana.vargas@co.santa-cruz.ca.usInterested persons may also come to the office located at 701 Ocean St., Room 210, in Santa Cruz, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit our website at www.votescount.com
