​Wake Board Boosts Pay For Election Workers

Press release from the Wake County Government:

by Stephen R. Walston on 8/17/2020 4:40 PM
Category: Board of Elections; WakeGOV Home Page

During its regular meeting Monday, Aug. 17, the
Wake County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to increase the minimum hourly wage for
2020 election workers to $11. While Election Day officials are paid a stipend, which
covers their training, polling place set-up and work on Election Day, the move
represents a $2.78-per-hour raise for those responsible for operating the 206
polling places across the county.

“These workers are the
backbone of our electoral process, and without them, we wouldn’t have the
infrastructure in place to cast our ballots,” said Commissioner Jessica Holmes,
who brought the issue before the board. “They provide a critically
important service to our community, and I think they deserve to be paid
accordingly.”

Wake County precinct
officials set up supplies and voting equipment, assist voters,
verify their registration, issue ballots and manage crowds. They are also
required by law to attend training classes prior to each election.

“We
appreciate the generosity of the Wake County Commissioners and the benefits
this additional income will provide to our incredible team of election
officials,” said Wake County Board of Elections Director Gary Sims. “They are
true public servants, and we appreciate the effort and energy they put into our
elections this year and every year.”

The
estimated cost of the wage increase is $144,700, which will come out of the
county’s General Fund Salary and Benefit Reserve. The raise only applies to the
2020 election cycle and will be reevaluated in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget
development process.

If you’re interested in
becoming a precinct official in your community, please visit the Board
of Elections website
for more information.

About Wake County Board of
ElectionsThe Wake County Board of Elections is responsible for conducting all
elections held in the county. The board establishes election precincts and
voting sites; appoints and trains precinct officials; prepares and distributes
ballots and voting equipment; certifies ballots cast in elections and investigates
any voting irregularities. The Wake County Board of Elections also maintains
voter registration and voting records for more than 767,000 voters.

To
learn more about Wake County Board of Elections, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook or contact us at 919-404-4040.

This press release was produced by the Wake County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.