McKean County Elections has an immediate need for poll workers for Hamlin Township 1st District in Hazel Hurst.
A minimum of two additional poll workers are needed for Nov. 2, with three workers preferred. The district is required to have one person to serve as judge of elections and one as machine inspector. One additional worker is needed, but not required, to comprise the five-member board for this voting district.
Hamlin Township 1st District has a polling location at the Hamlin Township Volunteer Fire Department in Hazel Hurst. Any registered voter can serve as an election worker, but only in their voting district. Should poll workers not be secured for this location, the district may be combined with Hamlin Township 2nd District and the polling location moved to Lantz Corners.
“We saw a decrease in poll workers in general in 2020 and now in 2021, without additional people, some of our polling locations are in danger of being combined with other locations,” said Lisa Pratt, director of elections. “Training is available for the open positions and they are paid workers.”
Poll workers serve for the primary election and general election from 6 a.m. to 8:30 or 9 p.m. Voting in Pennsylvania is from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In 2021, the primary election was held on May 18 and the upcoming general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Judges of elections are paid $165 per day and machine inspectors are paid $150 per day. Each person will serve for the primary and general election. Training days are scheduled two to three weeks before both election days for those new to the process or needing a refresher. A stipend of $15 plus mileage is paid for the 1- 2-hour training session.
Under normal processes, the judge of elections is elected. Currently no candidate is on the ballot for Hamlin Township 1st District for the general election in November. Anyone wishing to secure that position can pursue a write-in campaign where votes can be cast by paper ballot or at the polls on the voting machine.
For the 2021 general election in November, the judge of elections position in Hamlin Township 1st District can be filled by an appointment process to secure a worker. Machine inspectors are always appointed by the commissioners in a public meeting prior to each primary or general election.
Anyone interested in serving as a poll worker for Hamlin 1st District or for any other voting district should contact Lisa Pratt at McKean County Courthouse at 814-887-3236.
