The time to vote for the 2024 election season is almost here, but there’s other ways to get involved other than just voting.
Jefferson County is currently hiring people to work the polls for the upcoming election as a part-time employment. For early voting, workers will have day shifts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the same following for Election Day, with a salary of $11-12 an hour.
People wanting to apply for the positions should contact the political party they represent. The number for the Republican Party is 409-203- 3770 and the number for the Democratic Party is 409-203-3770.
Job requirements of poll workers include: setting up, preparing and maintaining the election equipment, thoroughly reviewing and completing all election forms, posting election materials inside and outside of the polling location, qualifying voters through use of identification and poll lists, activating electronic ballots and selecting the correct ballot styles for each voter, assisting voters during the voting process by explaining equipment usage, and closing the polling location at the end of the voting period. Additionally, there are some skills and abilities which are considered helpful for applicants to have.
Some of these are: the ability to fluently speak, read, and write Spanish, basic computer skills, attention to detail, strong verbal and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills in order to interact and cooperate with co-workers and to deal effectively with voters, poll watchers, electioneers, and the general public, ability to read, comprehend, and follow Texas Election Laws and instructions given by the Jefferson County Clerk, occasionally lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 20 lbs., such as election equipment, ballots, supply boxes, etc. and the ability to recognize election issues and to promptly report any issues to the Precinct Judge or County Clerk.
Anyone in the hiring process must attend the training sessions before Election Day, with each party hosting their own training sessions. Additionally, there will be a training session from 8 a.m.-noon at the Jefferson Courthouse by County Clerk Roxanne Acosta-Hellberg.
“We do some equipment training, just to get people refreshed with that process,” she said. “But the rest of it is on laws, particular laws that are applicable for this upcoming election and how to handle different scenarios. These people work hard with all they do to get trained, because they get beaten up quite a bit at the locations, which is sad.
“We have very hard workers committed to making sure people are eligible to vote. It’s a lot of time, a lot of sacrifice.”
For more information, visit jeffersonelections.com.