Poll workers needed in Westmoreland County for Nov. 2 election

Poll workers are needed for the Nov. 2 election in Westmoreland County.

Officials said at least three judges of elections and 10 poll worker vacancies remain less than two weeks before the general election.

Judges are needed to oversee polling locations in Arnold, Derry and New Kensington, while poll workers are need at precincts in Allegheny Township, Arnold, Loyalhanna, North Huntingdon and Unity.

“We will update the (county election bureau) website daily as to what is needed,” said Greg McCloskey, acting Election Bureau director.

The county expects to hire more than 1,500 poll workers the man the 307 voting precincts on Election Day.

County commissioners last spring increased the daily pay for judges of elections and poll workers in an effort to ensure positions are filled on Election Day. Officials in recent years have struggled to find enough workers to man the polls, a task made even more difficult in 2020 with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

Pay for judges of elections increased this fall to $235 for the day of work, up from $130. Poll workers pay was nearly doubled to $175 for the day.

Applications for the open jobs can be found online or by calling the election bureau at 724-830-3564, McCloskey said.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 2.

Meanwhile, election officials continue to process applications from votes who don’t plan to cast ballots in person next month.

As of Wednesday, the county received more than 21,000 mail-in ballot applications. Nearly 19,000 ballots have been mailed out to voters with just a handful so far being returned to the courthouse.

The deadline to apply for mail-in ballots is Oct. 26. All mail-in ballots must be returned to the courthouse when the polls close on Election Day.