Richland County is losing hundreds of June primary poll workers to coronavirus fears
Election officials in Richland County are scrambling to ensure they have enough poll workers to staff polling places for the June 9 state primary.
Hundreds of poll workers have not committed to working this June’s primary because of fears of contracting coronavirus.
Interim Richland County Elections Director Terry Graham said his office is considering consolidating up to 30 polling stations to minimize the number of workers needed to operate Democratic and Republican contests for U.S. Senate, Congress, State House and scores of local offices.
Graham said he can understand the concern of some poll workers, since “99.5% of our poll managers are 65 or older,” he said.
The elections office is looking to fill up to 300 positions, out of an estimated 800 to 900 poll managers expected to be needed to conduct June’s vote. Some volunteers have told Graham they want to wait to see whether the pandemic has waned by June, but the elections director says that for pre-election planning to move forward, “We need to know now.”
The S.C. Election Commission announced this week the June 9 primary — and potentially a runoff on June 23 — would go forward despite continuing concerns about the public health risk posed by the COVID-19 outbreak. Earlier this month, images of voters in Wisconsin trying to maintain social distancing online at a reduced number of polling places raised fears of how states can safely ensure elections go forward without putting voters and poll workers’ health at risk.
Lexington County is also looking to add poll workers after about 50 did not commit ahead of June. Beth Henrick with the Lexington elections office said her office is looking at consolidating nine precincts because of the reluctance of poll workers to fill positions. She predicted Lexington County will have enough poll workers to staff the open precincts.
State election officials have issued guidelines for operating an election during the coronavirus outbreak. Local volunteers will receive extra training on keeping precincts safe and clean, and poll workers will receive protective equipment like masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.
But voters who qualify to vote absentee are encouraged to take advantage of vote by mail options and the possibility of voting in person ahead of June 9, which local offices will begin to offer as soon as next week.
“If you come 30 days prior (to the election), there’s almost no one here,” Henrick said of her Lexington office — although voters are asked to call ahead so staff can unlock the door. The office is currently closed to the public.
Graham said his office had some success attracting new poll workers for a special election this past New Year’s Eve by offering increased pay for volunteers, and he’s considering offering higher pay this time around. Poll workers normally make between $135 and $195 for a day at the polls, and Graham said pay could be boosted by $30 in each category.
“Getting younger workers is harder,” Graham said. “We have some (poll workers) who can barely make it to the polls, but they come out to do their civic duty.”
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