Several Rhode Island communities have been struggling to find poll workers for upcoming elections because many experienced workers have “retired” over worries about the coronavirus pandemic.
Poll workers, who are paid by the day and are hired by individual cities and towns, tend to be in older age groups that are under more serious threat from COVID-19.
How much pressure will be placed on physical polling places is an open question, particularly for the Nov. 3 general election, because other forms of voting have gained popularity. But election officials said they are preparing for large in-person turnouts, in part because of public concerns about the timeliness of mail delivery. A shortage of workers could mean longer wait times at polling places.
In Cranston, the need for poll workers is significant, said Nick Lima, director of elections. He needs to hire about 20 more people. Heading into a hotly contested mayoral race, he said he expects strong turnout for both the upcoming primary on Sept. 8 and the general election on Nov. 3.
“We’re flat out right now,” Lima said.
His turnover in poll workers extends beyond the elderly to younger folks who are simply worried about the virus. “They just don’t feel comfortable doing it this year,” Lima said.
Lori Anderson, clerk of the Coventry Board of Canvassers, said she had openings for many positions at the town’s polling places. Job candidates were in such short supply, Anderson’s office called people who had applied to work at the polling places two years ago.
Adding to the difficulty of election planning: Anderson said the town had lost two polling locations due to the pandemic – a senior living facility and a mobile home park. The corporate owners had expressed concerns about the safety of residents. The polls have been moved to the high school.
Anderson said she suspects that concern over mail-service delays will drive more people to the polling places despite the pandemic. “I do think the possibility is that the people will show up, because of the talk out there,” she said.
Bristol Town Clerk Louis Cirillo, who is also the canvassers clerk, still had a few job openings to fill recently with the primary election just a few weeks away. He said several people who have worked at the polls for 30 years or more have said no this time. In some cases, their adult children have intervened. “Their children won’t let them do it,” Cirillo said.
In addition to filling open positions, Cirillo wants to have extra people in case anyone gets infected and must quarantine. “We have to plan for substitutions,” he said.
For the first time, mail ballots topped in-person voting in the presidential primary election in the spring, according to R.I. Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea. But questions about timely postal deliveries are now adding uncertainty.
With that in mind, the state is installing secure drop boxes at community locations for the September primary, she said. More will be installed by the presidential election on Nov 3.
In addition, for the first time, Rhode Island voters can participate in early, in-person voting. For 20 days until the day before an election, voters can cast ballots at designated places, typically the city or town halls.
Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Macdonald@PBN.com.