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EAC, Vet the Vote urge Americans — especially veterans — to sign up as poll workers at New Orleans event
Summary
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission and partners marked National Poll Worker Recruitment Day at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, highlighting Vet the Vote's recruitment of veterans and families (roughly 165,000 in 2024) and calling for more local poll workers ahead of statewide changes in Louisiana.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission, joined by nonprofit partner Vet the Vote and state and local election officials, convened a National Poll Worker Recruitment Day event at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans to press Americans to serve as poll workers.
EAC Chairman Don Palmer said the event aims to "highlight the patriotic work of election commissioners of Louisiana and poll workers across America" and to recruit volunteers to staff polling places. He urged attendees to talk to friends and neighbors about serving as poll workers.
At the podium, Lauren Westerfield, program director of Vet the Vote, described the initiative's rapid growth after COVID-era shortages: "In 2024 combined, we recruited over a 165,000 Americans who are veterans or military family members who volunteered to serve," she said, and invited listeners to sign up through Vet the Vote's website to find local opportunities by ZIP code. EAC Vice Chair Thomas Hicks added that roughly "750,000 people" served as poll workers in 2024 and said "more than 10% were veterans."
Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry framed the event for state officials and volunteers, noting the scale of local participation: "The nearly 30,000 commissioners across our state represent a diverse and dedicated group of individuals who perform a critical function," she said, and asked commissioners to help voters adapt to an upcoming closed-party primary and a new voting system the state plans to acquire.
Speakers from local jurisdictions and across the country described the operational side of recruiting and running elections. New Jersey Division of Elections Executive Director Donna Barber (speaking by audio) said New Jersey expects to need roughly 4,000 poll workers for early voting and 28,000 for election day across about 3,200 polling locations, and pointed listeners to online tools at vote.nja.gov. Plaquemines Parish Clerk Kim Turlish Vaughn and Jefferson Parish Voter Registrar Dennis DeMarco outlined clerks' and registrars' duties that include certifying tabulations, sealing early-voting machines, and training commissioners.
Several veteran poll commissioners recounted long service at polling places and urged others to join. Brig. Gen. John Plunkett of the Louisiana National Guard called poll workers "the real MVPs making democracy happen 1 ballot at a time" and emphasized how service-minded skills translate to election work.
The EAC premiered two campaign videos at the event'one highlighting national poll-worker needs and another produced with Vet the Vote'and organizers provided practical logistics for attendees, including parking validation and museum discount information.
The event included a mix of national and local appeals, recruitment data, and operational reminders; organizers said the immediate next step is outreach to recruit poll workers and share the EAC and Vet the Vote sign-up resources. EAC Chairman Don Palmer closed by retiring the colors and urging attendees to encourage volunteer service.
