LEON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) — Mark Earley, the Leon County Supervisor of Elections, is calling on residents to volunteer their time at the polls this election season.
Earley announced Monday that he is holding a poll worker recruitment drive for the upcoming 2020 Primary and General Elections.
“I encourage all voters to consider serving your community as poll workers,” said Supervisor Earley. “Poll workers are an essential part of the election. While we have a dedicated core of poll workers here in Leon County, some have health concerns that make them unable to serve during the pandemic. That is why I am looking to recruit additional poll workers to ensure that the election will be a success.”
To serve as a poll worker in Leon County, a person must be a registered voter in Leon County.
Officials say poll workers are compensated for their service and state employees can receive administrative leave for training and working as a poll worker. Voters who are interested in becoming poll workers can get started by completing an online poll worker application at LeonVotes.org.
More than 1,000 Leon County citizens will be trained as poll workers with the skills to assist voters. Training is conducted online and supplemented with small hands-on labs so poll workers can get experience with the voting equipment that will be used on Election Day.
Polling sites will be supplied with hand sanitizer and disinfectant, poll workers will be provided with personal protective equipment, and room layouts and procedures are being modified to encourage social distancing.
"In addition, all voters are encouraged to consider voting by mail as a way to shorten lines and reduce interactions with other people at voting sites," officials wrote in a press release sent Monday.
Voters with questions are encouraged to contact the Leon County Supervisor of Elections Office by email at vote@leoncountyfl.gov, or by phone at (850) 606-8683, Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.
