lisa mcglaun - carl vinson institute of governmentlisa mcglaun. athens-clarke county. elections...

Lisa McGlaun

Athens-Clarke CountyElections Assistant(706) [email protected] # of Active Voters: 71,680# of Election Day Polling Places: 20# of Advance Voting Locations: 5

GAVREO Conference December 2019

Recruiting Poll Workers -A Partnership With The Community


Try Something New

Imagine an election planning meeting that’s gone on too long...Dozens of poll workers still not hired….Imagine whining voices, “But, it’s soooo hard to find people!” Out of the blue, “Have you heard whatFlorida is doing?”


Adopt A Precinct – Florida Model

• Partner with a charitable or civic organization• Members work together “adopting” a precinct• Earnings donated back to organization

WIN/WINCharity earns funds/Precincts Staffed


Florida Is Not AloneEach program is unique:

• Wilson County, Tennessee• Online form for expressing interest

• Washoe County, Nevada• Requires a minimum of three involved members• Organization can display a banner at polling location

• Jackson County, Kansas• Organizations must be a 501c3


More Uniqueness

• City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin• Gives recognition through press releases and website

• Alameda County, California• Produced a video to promote their program• Member/workers must be bilingual

• Kern County, California• Organizations cannot be politically affiliated


Questions and More Questions

• How will we pay them?• Are there tax implications?• Would the group need 501c3 status?• What if a worker decides not to donate their

earnings?• What if????

What if?????What if?????


Working within a Unified Government

Everyone has a stake in election processes:The Board of ElectionsHuman ResourcesCity AttorneyRisk ManagementCounty Commissioners


A Program That Fits Athens-Clarke• Our Partner Organizations will:

• Be a 501c3 • Have no political affiliation• Sign a contract• Be paid as a vendor• Submit total hours worked; paid a flat hourly rate• Allow members to fill in where needed


LINK UP

LINK UP WITH ELECTIONSBOARD OF ELECTIONS

COMMUNITY DEMOCRACY

CHARITY


What’s Next?

• Finalize draft contract• Present to our Board• Find partner organizations• Give ourselves a high-five!


Link Up With ElectionsOur Goals

• Be the first in our state to launch a program• First partnerships in place for NOV 2020• In years to come, as the program gains

traction and we lose poll workers to retirement/resignation:

• A trusted organization will staff all positionsat a specific polling location.

lisa mcglaun - carl vinson institute of governmentlisa mcglaun. athens-clarke county. elections...

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