Village Always on Lookout for New Poll Workers

In what was expected to be a very slim election turnout Tuesday, it was nevertheless guaranteed that some people would show up at the polls.

They would be the poll workers themselves.

So Betsy Erickson, Arlene Mamerow and Phyllis Smestad were ready and waiting at the Sussex Armory first thing in the morning.

Poll workers open the polls, help register new voters, get people into the correct lines, confirm their eligibility to vote, hand out ballot, answer questions, oversee the placing of ballots into the counting machines and hand out those stickers that say, "I voted today!"

And finally, they help close the polls at the end of the day.

"We've got a good turnout so far today – more than we expected," Erickson said. "At 9:30, we're already up to 99. Ten percent would be 600 voters."

Ten percent was the predicted turnout for this election, a statewide primary date with only one race on the ballot, for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Today's election is a small one, said Village Clerk-Treasurer Sue Freiheit, but she's always looking for new people to help staff the polls.

"Regular workers need to be relieved for lunch, there is always a person or two who falls sick on election day," and from time-to-time people move on to other interests or move away, she said.

"For large elections we would typically have four lines to handle the turnout, at regular elections three, but today with just one race on the ballot we plan on just one line," Freiheit said.

Nonetheless, the village needs to be prepared by having enough trained poll workers available to call in, if needed, on election day. Freiheit is already thinking ahead to the 2012 presidential election.

"I like to have at least five to perhaps even ten back-up poll workers," Freiheit said.

Workers are paid a stipend, "which amounts to roughly minimum wage," she said.

Lacking any unforeseen changes – deaths or resignations – of those who presently hold public office at the local, county, state and federal levels, after today's polling and the April general election, there are no more elections for the rest of 2011, Freiheit said.

The spring general election will be held on Tuesday, April 5th at which voters statewide will decide who wins the next 10-year term on the high court, and at which voters in Sussex will choose a successor to retiring two-term Village President Tony Lapcinski.

The two people running for the presidency are current Village Trustee Greg Goetz and current School Board President Gabe Kolesari.

If working the polls is something in which you would be interested in the future, simply call Freiheit at village hall,  (262) 246-5211. The state provides training sessions and a manual to those learning the job;  the next training is scheduled for August.

(Watch for a profile soon of the two candidates for Sussex Village President.)