Don’t just vote—work at the polls

Want to get up close and personal with the democratic process? Here's your chance.

Venice is desperately seeking poll workers. So is Westwood. Ditto for Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Mar Vista and a host of other communities.

With the California primaries less than two weeks away, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan has put out a call for democratically-minded citizens to man the ballot boxes during the June 5 elections. Some 36 cities in Los Angeles County are short of volunteers, including Los Angeles, where precincts in more than 50 ZIP codes have reported shortages of two or more poll workers. (Click here and scroll down for a complete list of precincts that need workers.)

Many of the shortages are in high turnout areas of the Westside, though recruiting calls have gone out from Altadena to Westlake Village. Bilingual help is especially needed.

“Without poll workers, elections cannot function,” Logan says, noting that community volunteers “are essential to fair and open elections.”

Up to 25,000 poll workers are recruited to work in their respective election precincts each time the county holds a major election. Any registered voter who is over 18 and a resident of Los Angeles County can volunteer.

Workers are on duty from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., setting up and closing the polls and assisting voters. They receive a stipend of up to $105.

Interested volunteers should apply by June 4. Additional information is available here and here. To apply, visit www.lavote.net or call 1-800-815-2666 (Option 7).  Online application forms are also available here.

Posted 5/24/12