About 350 people are needed to make Election Day go smoothly
By STEVE PENN
The Kansas City Star
WANTED: Several hundred civic-minded workers ready and willing to handle huge numbers of voters on Election Day in November.
The Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners is preparing to hire enough poll workers to handle a record turnout.
As of this week, the election board had tallied 209,705 registered voters. To compare how much more involved voters are this time around, go back to the last presidential race, which pitted President Bush against Sen. John Kerry.
On June 15, 2004, the election board had 149,523 registered voters. The current number represents an increase of 40 percent.
But when there are no marquee names on the ballot, it’s clear from the numbers that many voters stay home when there’s nothing on the ballot that excites them.
Check out the numbers for the election in April, when local issues led the way. Only 37,490 people voted, accounting for 18.1 percent of all registered voters.
That’s not good.
At the opposite end of the spectrum was the February presidential primary, when names such as Obama, Clinton and McCain were on the ballot. Voter interest soared. In Kansas City, 73,874 people cast ballots, accounting for 35.6 percent of registered voters.
Shelley McThomas, a director of the Kansas City election board, said popular candidates drive people to the polls in larger numbers.
“Interest in the candidates translates into being interested in voting,” McThomas said. “I think there’s a sense that the world is kind of topsy-turvy. And as Americans, we always believe we can do something about it, that we can make a difference. So we have this young generation that senses that their vote could make a difference.
“If you believe your vote will make a difference, you will go and vote.”
Shawn Kieffer, the other director of the election board, said voters’ current enthusiasm will almost assuredly carry over into November.
“Without a doubt,” Kieffer said. “This November we’re going to see record turnouts. We’re going to see record registrations. It will be a very exciting race.”
Kieffer predicts the turnout in November will go much higher than the 35.6 percent in February.
“I will guess the turnout here in November will be double that,” Kieffer said. “For August it will be a little bit less: I guess around 40 percent. Turnout in August will be very similar to February. This is probably the most exciting year since 1992. We’re finding all ages registering. But we’re finding a lot of young people, which is exciting.”
With the prospect of a deluge of voters, about 350 people are being sought to work from 5 a.m. until 7 p.m. at polling places. The election board is looking for people to work as poll judges, deputy commissioners, voter assistance specialists and pick-up personnel, who can “stay until the last person in line has voted.”
Pay ranges from $50 to $175, depending on the job.
However you choose to participate, either as a voter or a poll worker, it’s a win-win scenario for democracy because you’re participating in something historic.
By voting, you make sure your vote counts. By working the polls, you make sure everybody’s vote counts.
To reach Steve Penn, call 816-234-4417 or send e-mail to spenn@kcstar.com.
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