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Board approves $10,425 to cover short-term election staffing for early voting
Summary
Lee County supervisors approved a $10,425 supplementary appropriation to fund three part-time early-voting workers and one part-time office worker to staff a 45-day early voting period ahead of the June 17 primary after the registrar said the office is understaffed and state law requires minimum precinct staffing.
The Lee County Board of Supervisors voted April 15 to provide a $10,425 supplementary appropriation to the electoral office to cover short-term staffing needs through the end of the fiscal year.
The registrar told the board the electoral office requires three part-time positions to staff each early-voting precinct and one additional part-time employee to work three days a week in the registrar’s office and to staff 45 days of early voting ahead of the June 17 primary. “We will need three part-time positions,” the registrar said, adding those workers would perform basic duties such as check-in and ballot processing.
Gerald Williams, chairman of the electoral board, urged the board to hire workers with election experience rather than random hires, saying experienced workers reduce the risk of errors and absenteeism: “Somebody with experience…we will try to hire one of those people to bring over here for that 45 days,” he said.
Board members discussed recruitment challenges, precinct staffing levels and legal requirements under the Virginia election code. Supervisors noted primary turnout is typically lower than in November and that some precincts may be overstaffed for a primary, but that state code requires minimum staffing at precincts and that experienced staff are important to maintain election integrity.
A motion to fund the $10,425 appropriation was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote. The transcript records affirmative voice votes but does not include a roll-call tally.
The board also noted this is a short-term appropriation to address current staffing needs; longer-term adjustments to the electoral budget will be considered during the county’s upcoming budget sessions.
