Election board OKs poll worker raises
NORRISTOWN » Poll workers will soon receive an increased allowance for their time on Election Day after the Montgomery County Board of Elections voted to formally amend the existing compensation policy.
“Prior to the primary and general elections every year, the board approves the appointment of tabulator clerks, who are authorized to act on behalf of the board in the computation, and tabulation of in-person election results,” said John Marlatt, solicitor for the county’s election board.
Clerks, inspectors and machine operators will receive $225 for training and working on Election Day, while judges will earn $300 for training, working, and picking up and returning election materials, according to Montgomery County election board Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr.
In 2019, judges received $140 for working on Election Day, while all other poll workers made $110, according to Kelly Cofrancisco, Montgomery County’s director of communications. This change represents a substantial boost: $115 more for poll workers and $160 more for judges.
The 2020 and 2021 elections reflected the same increased sums as what was proposed during Thursday’s meeting, according to Cofrancisco. This action will apply to election cycles moving forward.
“Recognition of the hard work and dedication of those who’ve chosen to take on this responsibility, and in the interest of being able to retain existing workers, as well as attract new ones to ensure that our polls are adequately staffed on Election Day, it’s been determined that instituting these temporary increases on a permanent basis is beneficial,” Marlatt said. Lawrence agreed.
“This is a very long day for all these individuals so I’m happy that we can increase their compensation some, but I really consider their work a public service even with the compensation,” he said.
Additionally, 43 tabulators were approved during Thursday’s meeting, according to Cofrancisco.
When reading the motion, Lawrence noted the election director would have the authority to make any “substitutions” or “additions” to the list of tabulators “as needed.”
The county’s election board authorized three couriers to deliver materials to satellite locations for judges ahead of the upcoming primary and general elections.
As part of a COVID-19 response package, the commissioners revised an existing contract between the Montgomery County Office of Voter Services and Randstad North America Inc. of Philadelphia.
The additional $10,000 was needed to secure personnel to answer telephone calls for the 2021 primary election, according to the agreement.
The contract was initially awarded due to the “high volume of telephone calls related to the 2020 general election.” The total figure now stands at $160,000.
In other business, officials authorized a handful of contracts related to elections in Montgomery County.
A $61,346.70 agreement between the county’s voter services office and Rifkin Company, of Wilkes Barre, covers “stackable, zippered supply bugs for polling location election supplies.”
A $33,640 one-year contract with NPC Inc. of Claysburg, was reached for “poll book printing services,” according to the agreement. Officials previously released an online request for proposals on this aforementioned item, which netted 41 views and three responses from competing firms.