With the November election fewer than 100 days away, the San Diego County Registrar of Voters is searching for poll workers, especially those who are bilingual and speak Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese or Chinese.
Election Day for the general presidential election is Tuesday, Nov. 5 — the final day to cast a ballot, whether by voting in person, dropping one’s mail ballot in a ballot drop box or mailing it.
Poll workers play an essential role in elections and can receive a daily stipend while serving their community, registrar officials said.
The registrar is seeking applicants who are “team players, exhibit strong leadership and customer service skills, and display flexibility, patience and the highest level of integrity at all times,” county officials said. Poll workers must also represent the registrar in a professional, nonpartisan manner.
Their responsibilities include providing customer service, assisting voters and answering their questions, as well as submitting stipend paperwork and opening and closing vote centers.
Federal law requires the county election office to provide bilingual speakers and voting materials to voters who speak Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese and Chinese.
There is also a need for Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Somali and Persian (both Farsi and Dari) speakers at select vote centers across the county, registrar officials said.
Due to the Voter’s Choice Act, rather than a single day of service, poll workers are now needed to staff vote centers for up to 11 days in the two weeks before Election Day.
Early in-person voting begins Oct. 26 at select vote centers countywide, including at the county election office in Kearny Mesa. Starting Nov. 2, more than 200 vote centers will be open daily until Election Day.
There is a particular need for poll workers to staff vote centers in Borrego Springs, Warner Springs, Boulevard, Descanso, Potrero, Campo, Pine Valley, Valley Center and Pala, registrar’s officials said.
Poll workers will receive a stipend of $145 for each day of service at a vote center between Oct. 26 and Nov. 4. On Nov. 5, poll workers will receive a stipend of $240 due to the extended hours.
Those who are designated as bilingual poll workers will receive an additional $5 for each day of service, with an increase to $10 on Election Day.
Poll workers are also required to attend a paid, two-day training session, where they will receive a $95 daily stipend.
Applicants must be 18 years old, a U.S citizen and registered to vote in California, or lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S. They must also be able to provide their own transportation to their assigned vote center.
Applications are available at sdvote.com. For more information, call (858) 565-5800 or email [email protected].
