Hamilton County Poll Workers Needed for Ohio's Aug. 8 Special Election

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The Hamilton County Board of Elections (BOE) is looking for paid poll workers to run special election-day operations on Tuesday, Aug. 8.

A special election in Ohio this August will ask voters to decide on Issue 1, which seeks to raise the threshold for approving amendments to Ohio’s constitution from a simple majority to 60% – an effort from GOP lawmakers ahead of a possible ballot measure in November to codify abortion rights into the state constitution.

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There are multiple different ways to be a poll worker in Hamilton County. Precinct election officials, or PEOs, help to set up the polls before Election Day, and they instruct voters about procedures at the polling place the day of the election. The position pays $181.50 and up, and requires a four-hour training session, which are offered mornings, afternoons and evenings, at the Board of Elections in Norwood. Training sessions begin July 10.

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PEOs will also have to help set up their polling place from 7-9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7 and work Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to around 8:30 p.m.

“It takes support from our voters to help facilitate elections in Hamilton County,” Hamilton County BOE Director Sherry Poland said in a press release. “It takes approximately 2,400 people to fully staff a county-wide election.”

Other positions include voting location manager (VLM) and voting location deputy (VLD), which manage responsibilities and procedures at the polling place. While the Election Day process is non-partisan, these two positions are staffed by people from opposite political parties.

To fill any of these positions, applicants must:

• Be a registered voter in Hamilton County, Ohio
• Be a United States citizen
• Be able to speak, read and write fluently in the English language
• Be comfortable using electronic technology
• Not be a candidate for any office to be voted on at the polling place in that election
• Not be convicted of a felony

Those interested should contact the Hamilton County Board of Elections at 513-632-7042 or apply online here.

The last day to register to vote in the August special election is July 10.