Poll workers play a pivotal role in mediating between voters and ballots, and can greatly influence the voting experience. This article investigates the demographics, training and job satisfaction of poll workers in Cuyahoga County, Ohio and the Third Congressional District of Utah.

Results stem from two surveys of poll workers conducted during the primary election of 2006. The surveys found that:

• poll workers vary in age, education level and experience with technology throughout and between jurisdictions
• training matters – poll workers who characterized their training positively were less likely to experience problems setting up or closing the polls
• good training increased confidence that votes would be counted correctly

Links

• American Society for Public Administration