Poll workers needed in Smithton, Jeannette, North Huntingdon ahead of November election

Poll workers are needed in Smithton, Jeannette and North Huntingdon for the upcoming general election, according to Beth Lechman, director of the Westmoreland County Elections Bureau.

Several workers are needed for voting precincts in the municipalities, she said.

Poll workers are paid for their daylong duties, between $95 and $130. The current openings are on the lower range of that scale, Lechman said.

Poll workers are responsible for checking in voters, delivering results and making sure the process runs smoothly. They must be registered voters and elections officials prefer that the workers live in the precinct where they work, but it’s not required.

“We like them to be of the district,” but outside workers can be appointed, if necessary, Lechman said.

Poll workers will be trained ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Interested residents can sign up online or by calling the elections bureau at 724-830-3564.

More than 40,000 poll workers are needed across the state, but they are becoming harder to find. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. for primary elections in the spring and the general election in the fall. Working hours stretch beyond those times.

Judges of election are responsible for overseeing the entire process from opening the polling place to returning all of the results and supplies.

Inspectors and clerks of election act as assistants to process voters and accompany them to voting machines.