LISTEN: Salt Lake County calls for volunteer poll workers

SALT LAKE CITY — With less than 100 days until the general election in November, the U.S. is facing a shortage of poll workers. 

Listen to KSL at Night discuss the need to poll volunteers with Salt Lake County Clerk Lannie Chapman 👇

That’s according to the Election Assistance Commission, which says 54% of jurisdictions throughout the country have struggled to recruit poll workers. 

Here in Utah, Salt Lake County has a “dire” need of volunteer poll workers, according to Salt Lake County Clerk Lannie Chapman. 

“Not only do we need poll workers on election day and during early voting, but we are primarily a vote-by-mail state. We need people to help us process those by-mail ballots,” she said. 

Because of that, Salt Lake County needs people to start volunteering as early as September. 

What does a poll worker do? 

Chapman said there are different roles for volunteer poll workers that fit into different skill sets. 

“It could be answering phones, entering data, updating addresses so we’re making sure we are getting voters in Salt Lake County their by-mail ballot to their correct address,” she said. 

Other duties include scanning and tabulating ballots. 

“We are especially looking for people that have more availability and people that speak Spanish.”

Why should you volunteer? 

KSL at Night’s Leah Murray says that if anyone has questions as to how elections are run in this country, serving as a poll worker can help them understand the process on a deeper level. 

Chapman says current national rhetoric may dissuade people to become a poll worker. However, serving as a poll worker is essential to our democracy, she says. 

“Voting is one of our most fundamental rights. It’s essential to the democracy we all live in,” she said. 

It’s in Utah’s DNA to volunteer our efforts in the service of civic duty, she says. “Anyway that we can get rid of road blocks to ensure people have access to have their voices heard… [is something] that is fundamental.” 

Where do you sign up? 

The sign up process is easy, Chapman said. 

You go to

1. Visit slco.vote.
2. Click on the “Become a Poll Worker” section.
3. Fill out a quick form that details personal availability.

Related: The importance of poll watchers in Utah elections