Poll workers needed in Monessen for March special election, other communities for primary

Poll workers are needed in Monessen for the March 17 special election for state representative and in other communities for the April primary election.

The Westmoreland County Elections Bureau is seeking 10 to 15 poll workers in Monessen, who will be trained and earn between $95 and $130 for the day. Poll workers are needed for the April 28 primary in Arnold, Derry, Monessen, New Kensington and North Huntingdon.

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The winner of the special election will fill the remaining term of former state Rep. Justin Walsh, a Republican, who resigned at the end of December. He was elected as a Westmoreland County Common Pleas judge after serving a year of his second term in the House.

The county Democratic party announced this week that their candidate is Robert Prah Jr., 38, of Rostraver.

The 58th district covers Adamsburg, Arona, East Huntingdon, parts of Hempfield, Jeannette, Madison, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant, North Belle Vernon, Penn Borough, Rostraver, Sewickley, Smithton, South Huntingdon, Sutersville and West Newton.

The county may have to borrow money to cover the costs for the special election, which are expected to exceed $200,000 for poll workers and polling location rentals. The state will reimburse the money, but that will take months and the county may not have room in its budget to pay upfront, according to elections officials.

The winner will serve the remaining nine months of Walsh’s term. Poll workers must be registered voters. To sign up, fill out an online form at the election page on the county website (www.co.westmoreland.pa.us) or call the bureau at 724-830-3564.

Judges of election are responsible for overseeing the entire process from opening the polling place to returning all results and supplies. Inspectors and clerks of election act as assistants to process voters and accompany them to voting machines.