On Election Day, hundreds of thousands of volunteers are required to staff polling places. This article investigates these poll workers’ motivation for serving, based on analysis of a 2006 survey of poll workers during the California State Primary Election.
The responses indicate that popular motivations include:
- wanting to serve the community
- a sense of “civic duty”
- a desire to monitor the democratic process
- the social aspect of interacting with friends and family at the polls
- material benefits
Additional Details
Based on the results, the authors recommend a multifaceted approach to poll worker recruitment. Outreach should:
- appeal to the public’s sense of duty or service
- emphasize the social benefits of serving
- encourage increased flexibility for students
Links
Mac Donald, K., & Glaser, B. E. (2007). The Attraction of Working from 6 am to 9:30 pm for a Fraction of Minimum Wage: Poll Workers and Their Motivation to Serve. Presented at the 2007 meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois.