2024 election sees record number of veterans serving as poll workers

[Craig Nigrelli]

MORE THAN 163-THOUSAND VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS WILL SERVE AS POLL WORKERS FOR THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTION, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM THE 63,500 RECRUITED FOR THE 2022 MIDTERMS, ACCORDING TO THE VET THE VOTE COALITION. THE COALITION IS A GROUP OF 43 ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS THAT AIM TO BOLSTER THE ELECTION WORKFORCE WITH VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES DURING ELECTION DAY PROCEDURES.

THE U.S. ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION NOTES THAT POLL WORKERS TYPICALLY HANDLE TASKS LIKE SETTING UP POLLING STATIONS, VERIFYING VOTER REGISTRATIONS, AND ASSISTING VOTERS WITH BALLOT PROCEDURES. VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE SEEN AS PARTICULARLY WELL-SUITED FOR THESE ROLES DUE TO THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH RULES AND PROCEDURES.

WITH 132-THOUSAND POLLING STATIONS ANTICIPATED TO BE OPERATIONAL ON ELECTION DAY, THE ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION ESTIMATES NEARLY ONE MILLION POLL WORKERS WILL BE REQUIRED NATIONWIDE.

A REPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SUGGESTS THAT VETERAN PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS CAN INCREASE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND REDUCE CONCERNS ABOUT POLLING STATION SECURITY.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT PEW RESEARCH CENTER SURVEY — U.S. REGISTERED VOTERS TEND TO TRUST POLL WORKERS. NINE-IN-TEN REGISTERED VOTERS SAY THEY ARE AT LEAST SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT THAT POLL WORKERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY WILL DO A GOOD JOB DURING THIS YEAR’S ELECTIONS.

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