The League of Women Voters will propose legislation to expand the potential pool of Election Day workers.

In Massachusetts, with more than 2,000 precincts, more than 12,000 workers need to be recruited for each statewide election. Recruiting enough poll workers is a continuing issue in election administration.

The League believes expanding the pool of competent and diverse potential Election Day workers will improve this situation and will increase the efficiency of polling places.

This legislation would allow municipalities to hire people to work at the polls who are not registered in that municipality and would permit high school students to work as poll workers. It would also allow municipalities to reassign their employees to work at the polls. 

• According to a Help America Vote Act of 2002 Policy Brief, there is a need for improved communication with voters and among precincts in Massachusetts municipalities. One recommendation is to provide additional staff on election days.
• Requiring poll workers to be registered in the municipality where they work at the polls is unfair and detrimental to efforts to recruit and retain a sufficient poll-worker pool.
• The National Council of State Legislatures Elections Reform Task Force reports that only 17 states, including Massachusetts, require that poll workers be registered in the community where they work. Of these 17, five allow some exceptions.
• According to the Elections Assistance Commission, the average age of a poll worker today is 72.
• The Help America Vote Act established the Help America Vote College Program that encourages college students to serve as poll workers and the Help America Vote Foundation to encourage high school students to work at polling places. Massachusetts should follow up on these initiatives. College communities would greatly benefit from being able to recruit students still registered in their home communities, and all communities could benefit from recruiting high school students.
• At least 31 states allow students ages 16 and 17 to serve as poll workers if they meet certain criteria.
•  Reassigning municipal employees to work at the polls opens up another pool of potential poll workers and could be a cost-savings for the municipality. Reassigned employees should not lose pay or earned time off.