Clay County Supervisor of Elections seeking paid election workers

The Clay County Supervisor of Elections Office is searching for election workers to help with the upcoming election year.

A Facebook post in search of interested individuals collected more than 400 comments—a large majority labeled “heated arguments,” by a spokesperson from the Supervisor of Elections office.

“Political banter kind of comes with the territory,” Community Service Coordinator Heather Stewart said. “But I tell people all the time, ‘if you don’t want to hear anything about elections, you should become an election worker.’”

Election workers are paid for their time and must fulfill basic requirements, Stewart said.Photo byClay County Supervisor of Election

On election day, election workers are prohibited from talking about party affiliation, candidates or anything to do with the election in general, Stewart said. Additionally, clothing must be non-partisan, meaning, it can be patriotic, but not representative of a party or candidate.

Election workers are paid for their time and earn approximately $195, she said.

The requirements to work as an election worker in Clay County are below:

• Must be a Clay County registered voter
• Speak, read and write English (bilingual election workers are in high demand also)
• Must have valid form of transportation
• Be available to work where needed
• Have an email and internet access
• Complete training prior to each election
• Be able to work a 14+ hour day (just on election day)
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of election laws and procedures
• Enjoy working with the public
• Abide by no smoking policy
• Be reliable and dedicated to the voting process
• Treat everyone with dignity and respect

Interested election workers can visit the Clay County Supervisor of Elections webpage to find an application and online and in-person orientation class sign-ups. Once it gets closer to actual election season, those classes will “ramp up” and become more frequently available, Stewart said.

“First time election workers, aside from their training, are only required to work on election day,” she said. “It’s a long day, but it goes really fast. You are always moving, doing something or assisting someone.”

Election workers with previous experience are sometimes asked to work early voting, but it requires additional training and first-time workers are typically not asked to assist during that time period, Stewart said.

“Most people who have worked as an election worker come back year after year because they enjoy the camaraderie and serving their community,” she said. “It really is a rewarding experience.”

Click here to be taken to the Clay County Supervisor of Elections webpage for more information and frequently asked questions.