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Elections office moves judges to county payroll, seeks two precincts to ease redistricting impacts
Summary
Elections deputy director told commissioners the office will reclassify election judges as county employees (W-2) and is asking the state to approve two new precincts to reduce travel and provisional ballots caused by redistricting.
The Worcester County elections office told commissioners April 1 that election judges will be reclassified this year as county employees and paid through payroll rather than as independent contractors, affecting pay, Social Security (FICA) and payroll reporting.
Deputy Director Theresa Reagan explained the change follows IRS guidance and state comparisons; judges will remain part time and will not be eligible for county fringe benefits such as health insurance unless they meet the county’s hours thresholds. The office said the change will raise personnel costs (salaries, FICA, workers’ compensation) but remove the prior 1099 reporting approach.
Elections staff also asked the board to support adding two precincts — numbered 13 and 14 — to restore polling locations closer to voters in the Snow Hill and Newark areas after the most recent redistricting. Staff reported complaints from residents who were required to travel much farther under the new lines and who cast provisional ballots in the wrong precincts in prior elections. The elections office said the state board of elections must approve any precinct adjustments.
Other requests in the elections budget presentation included additional warehouse space for equipment storage, three stand-alone cameras for ballot drop boxes, and funding for an increase in temporary clerical staff to help process permanent mail-in ballots. Staff said the county currently has 43,000 registered voters across 20 precincts and 16 polling places and that turnout for the 2024 general election, including early voting, was about 72%.
Commissioners indicated they will review proposed budget changes; staff said final items such as precinct adjustments require state approval before implementation.
