Fall's Heavy Election Schedule Has Officials Scrambling

A series of four elections this year may test election officials trying to organize the volunteers needed to staff polling locations.

The Somerset County Board of Elections was already facing the task of finding poll workers for November's general election, when Gov. Chris Christie's decision to set a special election to fill the Senate seat of Frank Lautenberg after his death added two more dates to fill—the Aug. 13 Senate primary and the Oct. 16 Senate ballot.

And if that wasn't enough, voters in Long Hill, Warren and Watchung are being asked to weigh in on the Watchung Hills Regional High School referendum on Sept. 24.

That means one election day each month through November.

The poll workers are required for the elections, verifying registered voters' signatures and tracking the number of voters through the balloting. Workers receive $200 in compensation if they work the full day (which can be long: most of the voting hours will be 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.), with stipends offered for those picking up materials before voting begins and returning materials to the Board of Election office). 

Poll workers must be registered voters in Somerset County, and can participate in training sessions offered at the election board offices in Somerville from 10 a.m. to noon, Aug. 1, or 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 8.

An application to be a poll worker must be submitted to the election board.