Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Poll Worker Recruitment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board outlines poll-worker recruitment and appointment timeline; chairs trained, appointments set for Aug. 19
Summary
Elections staff reported precinct-chair trainings, a plan for summer recruitment, and a statutory deadline of Aug. 19 for the board to make poll-worker appointments; staff expects party chairs to submit slates late summer for the new board to appoint.
Elections staff updated the Buncombe County Board of Elections on poll-worker recruitment and the timetable for judge appointments, saying precinct-chair trainings were held in April and that the board must make official appointments on Aug. 19.
“One of the dates that's not negotiable in statute is August 19. That's the date when the board will make appointments of the judges,” Miss Rea said, describing the nomination and appointment workflow with party chairs, precinct chairs and a third-party background-check process.
Staff held three precinct-chair training sessions in April at 200 College Street with a combined attendance of about 85 people (down from roughly 100 in 2023). Trainings covered recruiting, desirable skills (computer literacy and impartiality), expected training length, the hiring process including background checks run by a third-party employment agency, and the roles and daily workflow for chief judges, party judges and assistants.
Miss Rea said precinct chairs now have the summer to recruit and compile names; party chairs will forward slates to elections staff at the end of the summer. Staff will compile a slate of nominees for the new board to consider. The board discussed historical participation and the need to reach out to smaller parties — the libertarian party currently has identified participation and the board encouraged outreach to other minor-party leaders.
Board members asked whether attendees dropped out after learning duties and length of commitment; Miss Rea said some people expressed surprise at how involved the work is but emphasized that experienced poll workers remain critical. Staff said some clerks who were appointed in 2023 did not ultimately work every election and that the office maintains records of prior worker availability to inform outreach.
No formal appointment actions were taken at the May 13 meeting; staff provided the board with the timeline, training attendance figures (85 attendees), recruitment instructions for precinct chairs, and the statutory appointment deadline of Aug. 19.
