Alexandria Seeking Election Officials
Citizens can apply online or in person for Election Day jobs that offer paid compensation.
The City of Alexandria is looking for citizens interested in serving as election officials.
Officials are expected to report to work at 4:45 a.m. on Election Day and perform a variety of tasks, including preparing a polling place for voting, setting up voting equipment, demonstrating voting procedures, closing polling stations and certifying the work done at polling locations.
To apply, you must be a registered voter in Virginia, be willing to attend a training class, be available to work the entirety of Election Day and be responsible, good-humored and enjoy serving the public.
Chief officers will be compensated $200 for their work on Election Day. Assistant chiefs will be paid $125 and election officers will receive $100.
Alexandria is expected to have a heavy ballot for the Nov. 6 General Election, including races for president, U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, mayor, city council, school board and potentially the 45th district state delegate seat. Citizens will also vote on two proposed amendments to Virginia’s constitution.
If interested in applying, visit the city’s Voter Registration Office at 132 N. Royal St., Suite 100. You will have to take an oath and fill out forms.
The city has posted fliers in buildings and coffee shops around town where citizens can scan a QR code to apply. Just look for the flier with an apple pie.
Citizens can also apply online on the city’s website.
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Alexandria City Government - Voter Registration and Elections
132 N Royal St, Alexandria, VA
MJVolk
2:26 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
I know this is important work but it is high time the state considers shifts for Election Day workers. It would be much easier if you broke up the day into rolling shifts so there is always coverage but no one has to commit to the entire day. Most simply do not have the time -- which is why it is difficult to find workers.
Caleb Cody-Beckham
4:37 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Excellent point, MJVolk. 4:45 AM to 8 PM (if you're lucky) is 15+ hours. Even with the mid-day lulls in voting that's exhausting. Maybe the chiefs need to be there all day but it seems like the other workers could split into two shifts.
Gail G
9:07 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
In my experience, the poll workers tend to be retirees. A 15 hour day is tough on anyone, let alone senior citizens. I agree that there should be shifts, along with a concentrated effort to attract college aged and other younger voters to work the polls on election day. There should also be a law that would allow people collecting unemployment to work the polls that day and not have the day's income subtracted from their benefits. It's a public service. I'll also note that the minimum wage in Virginia is $7.25 per hour. $100 for 15 hours works out to $6.66 per hour.