Douglas County inducts poll workers into Hall of Fame; 86-year volunteer George Reed honored

Douglas County officials on Tuesday recognized long-serving poll workers and inducted 21 workers into the county’s Poll Worker Hall of Fame for serving at least 20 years.

Election staff and Commissioners praised the volunteers’ role in administering large elections. Election staff said the 2024 presidential general required roughly 3,000 poll workers across 233 polling places. The county held a separate induction ceremony and invited the public to sign up for future polling work at votedouglascounty.com.

Highlight: George Reed

The board singled out George Reed, who began working as a poll worker in 1960 and, according to county staff, has worked 65 years without missing an election. Reed, who the county said now serves as a district supervisor overseeing multiple polling places, attended Tuesday’s meeting with family in the gallery; the board read a resolution recognizing his decades of service.

Why this matters: Poll workers are central to election operations; county staff said their program mobilizes thousands of poll workers for every countywide election and depends on long-term volunteers and a trained paid staff.

What was said: Election staff described a Hall of Fame ceremony scheduled for the following day and invited Commissioners and the public to attend. Commissioner Borgeson praised volunteers and thanked Reed for his service; the board approved resolutions recognizing the inductees and Reed in a unanimous vote.

Practical note: Election staff urged residents interested in serving as poll workers to register through the county’s election website.