Considering volunteering at the polls this year? COVID-19 could mean ‘hazard pay’
Kansas City election workers will earn a higher stipend this year for volunteering at the polls during a pandemic.
“People are risking their lives to help people vote,” Lauri Ealom, Kansas City Election Board director, said. “Our stipend is low anyway but you can’t pay somebody low like that when they’re doing something for the community and they’re risking their lives.”
For the first time she’s aware of, Ealom said, the Kansas City Election Board is offering hazard pay to poll workers because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It increases the stipend for the lowest paid workers from $135 to $275, Ealom said.
Ealom said the same pay was provided for people who worked at the polls during the primary election in August.
Cities across the country, including Milwaukee and Detroit, have offered hazard pay this year, partly due to concerns that the pandemic will reduce the number of people willing to do the work.
Heading into the election, Ealom said, she was concerned that there would not be enough volunteers. The majority of Kansas City’s poll workers, she said, are over 75 and therefore at higher risk of complications if they contracted COVID-19.
However, Ealom said, the election board usually receives more volunteer interest during presidential election years and her office is already sorting through numerous applications.
In order to prevent he spread of COVID-19, all election workers in Kansas City are required to wear masks. An eight-foot barrier will separate voters from poll workers at check in and equipment will be frequently sterilized according to the Kansas City Election Board website.
In Johnson County, the Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to vote on a one time pay increase for election workers next week.
This story was originally published October 1, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
