SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — We’re 10 weeks away from the November election, but early voting will get underway a lot sooner. Poll workers are still needed to make that happen.
“We are looking for poll workers. We feel that we have enough, but it's always good to have a ram in the bush, and that's what we look forward to,” Pat Jefferson, director of voter registration and elections for Sumter County, said.
With the election right around the corner, directors of voter registration and elections like Jefferson are looking for poll workers.
"We’re trying to get at least 425, only because we have the town of Pinewood. They'll have an election during that time as well. Of course, the city of Sumter, along with the mayor of Sumter and city wards two, four and six. That's an election by itself, but it all will be in with the general election. We just want to have more than enough workers when it's time for them to take a break, we have someone there to step in,” she said.
Jefferson says Sumter County has reached out to local schools and posted online about the poll worker vacancies. Currently they have 380 poll workers. She says a poll managing training class must be completed and passed in order to work.
“As of August 12th, we had an influx of applications where people saw it and they signed up to work. They went on our website, along with the South Carolina State Election Commission website, because it's out there as well, and they fill out an application for poll workers“
News19 reached out to Richland County and we’re being told they have a goal of adding 500 additional poll workers, but right now only have about 150 applicants.
Both Sumter and Richland counties say those interested can visit their websites or call the offices directly.
“Please call us if you're interested in giving back to the citizen of Sumter County, which we all should. It takes a village to run an election,” Jefferson said.