The Secretary of State Offices for Kentucky and Tennessee are recognizing Tuesday as National Poll Worker Recruitment Day. National Poll Worker Recruitment Day was established by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission in an effort to raise awareness for the need for poll workers and voter registration.
Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adam’s Office has formed a partnership with the Kentucky Guild of Brewers to help recruit poll workers. Through the partnership, beer labels have been designed to solicit volunteers to work the polls. The labels have QR codes directing to govoteky.com where a poll worker application is available.
In a press release, Adams said he believes promoting volunteering at the polls through craft beers will reach a younger generation.
“Last year I testified to the legislature that we had a poll worker crisis in Kentucky,” Adams said. “COVID-19 certainly hasn’t helped. We need younger generations to step up and be good citizens, and so we enlisted the help of Kentucky’s craft breweries to reach them.”
The campaign is called “SOS From Your SOS” and is now being carried by four Kentucky breweries.
Tennessee’s Secretary of State Tre Hargett is also asking Tennesseans to volunteer to serve as poll officials for the Nov. 3 election. Hargett said in a press release he believes additional poll workers will be needed this upcoming presidential election because he anticipates a large turnout.
“Thousands of Tennesseans, especially students and young adults, stepped up to serve as poll officials for the August election,” Hargett said. “With tremendous interest in the Presidential election, we anticipate a robust turnout requiring additional workers in November. That is why I encourage Tennesseans to apply today.”
The minimum age to work as a poll official in Tennessee is 16 years old. Anyone over 18 must be a registered voter in the county they are serving in.
County or municipal government employees can serve if they do not work directly under the supervision of an elected official who is on the ballot. Poll officials will be supplied with face coverings, gowns, face shields, gloves and other personal protective equipment.
Poll officials in Tennessee will be compensated for working on Election Day and for attending required training sessions.
