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Lawrence County Board of Elections moves Newcastle polling place, approves pay increases for election judges
Summary
At a Feb. 26 meeting, the Lawrence County Board of Elections voted to move one Newcastle precinct to New Creation Free Methodist Church and approved pay increases for election judges, inspectors and temporary workers; county staff said the increases will be paid from a state grant.
Lawrence County's Board of Elections voted Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, to move the polling place for Newcastle Fourth Ward, First District, and to raise pay for election judges, inspectors and temporary workers.
The resolution to move Newcastle 41 passed unanimously. The board approved relocating the precinct from the Albert P. Geddings Government Center annex to New Creation Free Methodist Church, 725 Pearson St., Newcastle, PA 16101. Election Director Tim Germani told commissioners the new site offers more parking and is "more accommodating" for voters and for accessibility needs.
The board also approved a pay increase for poll workers, the first such change since 2021. Under the approved resolution, a judge of elections will receive $150 for the day (up $20), majority and minority inspectors $120 (up $20), and clerks $115 (up $20). Temporary non-employee workers, typically high-school students who assist with supply pickup and teardown, will move from $7.50 an hour to $10 an hour. Germani said the county will draw on a state grant to fund the increases and estimated the change would cost about $7,500 per election or roughly $15,000 annually.
The board discussed recruitment and retention of poll workers during the meeting. Germani said turnout and staffing pressures make it increasingly difficult to recruit workers. Commissioner Saenotta told the meeting she hoped the increase would "help us out with elections" and thanked longtime poll workers for their service.
A letter from election judge Patty Myron Scarnati was read into the record. Scarnati described the time required for training, supply pickup and election-day work and wrote, "We deserve more money. Please consider giving all the judges and inspectors more money." Germani cited that same letter when recommending the pay changes.
The polling-place move affects 767 registered voters in the Fourth Ward, First District. If approved, election staff will notify affected voters, post statutorily required notices at both the old and new sites and place three additional signage postings around the precinct, Germani said.
Minutes of the board's Nov. 27, 2024 meeting were approved earlier in the session. A member of the public raised a concern during public comment that draft minutes and the two resolutions had not been provided in advance; the county solicitor replied that the documents would be made available after approval.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of Nov. 27, 2024 meeting minutes: motion carried by roll call (3-0 yes). (Provenance: transcript lines beginning 392.0'02.0 and ending 453.75'02.0.) - Resolution 1 (move Newcastle Fourth Ward, First District polling place to New Creation Free Methodist Church, 725 Pearson St., Newcastle): approved by roll call (3-0 yes). (Provenance: transcript lines beginning 1112.6'02.0 and ending 1330.62'02.0.) - Resolution 2 (increase pay for judges of elections, inspectors, clerks; raise temporary workers' hourly rate): approved by roll call (3-0 yes). Germani estimated an annual budget impact of about $15,000, funded from a state grant. (Provenance: transcript lines beginning 1481.23'02.0 and ending 1966.79'02.0.)
The board indicated staff will complete required notifications and postings under the Election Code. The meeting adjourned after a brief public-comment period and closing remarks.
