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Council hears push to raise poll worker pay; staff to return with budget recommendations
Summary
Members and elections staff agreed poll-worker pay is low for the hours worked and directed staff to consider higher rates in the budget process; no vote was taken.
Kershaw County Council heard a substantive discussion Feb. 11 about poll worker compensation and whether current pay is sufficient to staff elections.
Voter registration staff described current baseline pay levels and said the county has had difficulty recruiting poll workers for summer primaries and other elections. Deputy director/registrar Mako Reddick told council: "During at least 75 a day for early voting. When it comes to actually on election day it's ... 180 for training and for working today and that is the baseline." (Transcript quote retained as spoken.)
Council members — including John Cato, Mark Tomlinson and Sammy Tucker — said the amount is insufficient given 12-hour shifts and urged the administration to "move the needle" on pay. Council and staff agreed the issue will be addressed in the county's budget process; staff will present specific recommendations and projected costs for council consideration.
No formal vote was taken. Council indicated broad support for increasing poll-worker compensation to improve recruitment, with staff noting any increase would need to be funded through the budget process or supplemented by county or state approaches under consideration.
The discussion also touched on state-level legislation (HB 3551) proposing increased pay for poll workers; staff said they are monitoring the bill.
