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With expectations of a high 2024 voter turnout in that presidential-year election, the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections Office is calling for election workers now.
With expectations of a high 2024 voter turnout in that presidential-year election, the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections Office is calling for election workers now.
According to the Elections Office website (voteosceola.gov), election workers work at the polls on Election Day and during early voting to ensure that voters can “exercise their right to vote in an honest and well-organized manner.”
Osceola County needs approximately 500 election workers for each general election.
“We expect the November 2024 election to have the highest turnout since the November 2020 election. That means we will need more election workers than we did in 2022,” said Kari Ewalt, Elections Office administrative services director. “We would like to add 200 more workers to our current staff.”
One possible reason for a high 2024 presidential election turnout could be another meeting between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Ewalt said there is a misconception that election workers are purely volunteers.
“Election workers are paid for their time,” she added.
Compensation is based on the positions available. Workers can earn $240 to $370 on Election Day, which includes training, according to the Elections Office.
“They are also learning a lot about the election process while serving their community,” Ewalt said. “I’ve heard several election workers say that they like working because they meet new people.”
There is also another incentive—protecting the integrity of the elections.
“Democracy does not survive without free and fair elections. Voting is the cornerstone of democracy. Without election workers, voters can’t vote. Democracy can’t live without them,” Ewalt said.
Requirements for election workers are as follows: Be a registered voter in Osceola County, or eligible to register.
Be able to speak, read and write the English language.
Attend a mandatory orientation session prior to working at the polls. (Note: attendance or completion does not guarantee that you will work, only that you are on the active election worker list.)
Be able to work a 14-plus hour day. (You may not leave and return to the polling location.)
Attend mandatory training before each election worked.
Arrive at 5:45 a.m., and stay until after the closing of the polls at 7 p.m. All workers leave together.
Remain non-partisan in speech and dress on Election Day.
Be a responsible team player, and enjoy working with all types of people.
You may not serve as an Election Worker if you are an immediate family member of a candidate or are actively working on a candidate’s campaign.
Physical requirements include standing, bending, stooping, lifting up to 30 pounds, normal vision and manual/physical dexterity.
There are different positions available on Election Day. To see the position and to register to be an election worker, visit www.voteosceola.gov, click on “election workers.” There, you can complete the online application.
“We will be sending out emails to all of those who applied in September to invite them to orientation in October. Orientation spaces are limited. Seats will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Orientation is required to become an election worker,” Ewalt said.
