Let poll workers have split shifts

If state lawmakers want to do something substantive to help Kansas elections, they can pass a bill that would allow split shifts for poll workers. Under the current outmoded law, somebody who wants to work a polling place must do so for the full 14-hour Election Day shift. One of the stated reasons behind Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Bill Gale’s 70 percent cutback in the number of polling places last year was the difficulty in finding workers to staff so many locations. Gale told The Eagle editorial board that he supports the bill. “I hope it passes,” he said, “because we’d love to have the option available to help us.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Correction: Poll workers in Sedgwick County will be on the job Tuesday from 4:45 a.m. until at least 8 p.m. — more than 15 hours.

7 Comments

  1. JWink
    Posted February 26, 2007 at 6:51 am | Permalink

    Very few retired people want to work a 14 hour day. So Bill Gale, I think you are on the right track with the split day proposal. And good luck tomorrow with the primary election.

  2. Tony
    Posted February 26, 2007 at 7:23 am | Permalink

    JWink,

    Geezzz… i must be in agreeable mood today…

    The 14 hour day is part of the reason I didnt end up working the election. Its hard for me to carve out 14 hrs, 7 hrs, I can do…

    Also, anyone else who voted early notice the nice computer systems they installed to varify voter registration??? Looks like we are well on our way to be able to vote anywhere!!!

    Hopefully by the next presidential election we will be able to vote at any polling place. Something I have been saying is possible and should have been done a long time ago.

    I also think they should open polling places at Boeing/Spirit, Cessena, and basically the other top 10 employers in town. I think that would greatly increase voter turnout. How does the Red Cross increase its intake? They go to thoes location…

  3. Ben Huie
    Posted February 26, 2007 at 8:18 am | Permalink

    Go for it Bill. And, while we are here – my salute for advance voting. I got mine done Friday – in and out faster than getting coffee at QuikTrip!

  4. political_mom
    Posted February 26, 2007 at 9:26 am | Permalink

    I emphatically agree. 14 hours is a long time for the ones who are usually poll workers, the elderly, the disabled. And you’d probably get more volunteers.

  5. Vaughn Tolle
    Posted February 26, 2007 at 2:50 pm | Permalink

    I hope the bill passes; it only makes sense that by allowing the “split shifts” there would be an increase in the number of those able to volunteer to work at the polls on election day. I also agree with the comments made herein concerning the advance voting; what a good deal.

  6. Kev
    Posted March 3, 2007 at 6:05 am | Permalink

    I think an even better idea would be to run elections over 2 days. The first day the polls would open at 5AM to 10AM close and then reopen at 3PM until 8PM thus give the workers 5 hours off during the day when nobody shows up to vote anyway. The next days the polls would open at noon and remain open until 8PM.

  7. Kev
    Posted March 3, 2007 at 6:08 am | Permalink

    Another thing is that Election Day should be a holiday. No school and no unessential work- or a half day paid holiday. If I were an employer, I would give a paid half day off to all employees that brought me back a voter receipt.