Because of Commissioner Maxwell's allegations as well as possible pollworker violations, this is the Guide from the PB County Supervisor of Elections:
Poll Worker Guidelines
READ THIS BEFORE FILLING OUT THE ONLINE POLL WORKER APPLICATION
- It is your responsibility to read and comply with Florida Election Laws.
- COURTESY TO THE VOTER IS OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE.
- Work begins at 6:00 AM and continues until all work is completed after the polls close at 7:00 PM.
- Poll workers must be able to lift 30 - 50 lbs. and be prepared to stay at the polling place all day. It is necessary to have good eyesight and hearing and the ability to endure the long hours. Bring with you all the things you will need for the day, such as food, medication, etc.
- According to Florida law, a poll worker MUST attend a training class before each election in order to serve as a poll worker in that election.
- The clerk in charge of your precinct or the election office will contact you about working at the polls. If you do not receive notification from the clerk or the elections office prior to the election you will not be working in that election. It is possible you will be called for a future election.
- Comfortable dress, as for a business day is suggested. Do not wear anything that will promote a party affiliation, a candidate or an issue. Discussion of candidates or issues is STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
- Smoking is not allowed in the polling place, by (Florida law)
- Poll workers are paid for training class attendance and working on Election Day a lump sum in the range of $134.00 - $225.00 (depending on the position held).
- Poll workers salaries are subject to taxes (only after earning $600.00), such as FICA, FICA/Mandatory, and Withholding.
- We try to place poll workers in their residence precinct to work. In some instances, we have more poll workers than necessary in a precinct and not enough in others, so please indicate on your application if you would work outside your precinct.
- You cannot serve as a poll worker if you are an immediate family member of a candidate.
13 comments:
someone could start a rumor that Maxwell abuses his wife. How would that compare to election fraud rumors. About the same I would think.
Anon 9:08 am - that camment brings back memories of the Cara Jennings et al antics from several years ago. Those things hurt more people than just the individual that is targeted.
If there are concerns about voter fraud, then why wouldn't you want them addressed? I don't think Mr. Maxwell is going to fabricate things because that would only hurt him in the end. If he has concerms, then he will take them to the Supervisor of Elections and State Attorney if he hasn't already.
Lynn, thanks for posting this information. Unfortunately there were poll workers in June/July elections wearing campaign t-shirts and recommending who voters should choose. Initally Mr. Lopez said it was OK to wear campaign attire until the SOE Bucher notified her that was not the case.
Ok now, let's stop back-peddling for Maxwell. Did you read his charges? Give me a break, Robert.
Next, if poll workers were wearing campaign t-shirts, and I find that highly unlikely and totally crazy and off the wall, then where is the proof--where are the photos? Perhaps there is some confusion as to what constitutes a poll worker??????? Anyone can stand within 100 feet of the polling booth and wear a t-shirt. They are working the polls but they are NOT poll workers.
Lyn, please check your sources for me. I thought maxwell wanted "POLL WATCHERS"---checking the ID process not the paid Poll Workers you are talking about.
If I am wrong, I apologize in advance.
Poll Watchers are paid and sanctioned by the Supervisor of Elections Office. Anyone else is just Joe Citizen and has no authority whatsoever. He can't go in and demand a thing at the precincts and must abide by the rules like anyone else. Even if a candidate dropped by, he could not wear his t-shirt into the voting precinct.
Again Lynn call Pam Lopez she can verify that Poll Workers were wearing Waterman T Shirts................................................................
Regardless of all of this the most important part is for people to get out and vote. We should all take our election process seriously and be a part of the process.
I'm glad to see dialogue and discussion on the topic and clarifing the duties is great Lynn so every one understands clearly what they can and can not do.
Remember in other countries the people do not have this right so please excersise the right and encourage others to do so also.
Sincerely,
Robert Waples
Lynn I wanted to clear a couple things up. Poll watchers are not paid by the SOE. They are volunteers from a campaign to watch and make sure that procedures are followed by the poll workers.
Poll workers in your city elections are hired by Pam Lopez, not the SOE. The SOE's office will place them on an approved list once they go through the mandatory training but in essence, they are employees of the city clerk.
Poll watchers are not permitted to speak to voters. If they see something wrong, they are to report it to the campaign they are working for and the poll worker supervisor.
There were a couple of instances of poll watchers for Waterman wearing campaign t-shirts in the special election. I was alerted by a voter who saw it when they were voting. I alerted the SOE's office who contacted Pam and the people were told to change their shirt.
Poll workers are paid employees of the Supervisor of Elections, who carry out all the tasks necessary for operation of the election including (but not limited to): transporting ballots between the Elections office and the polling locations, setting up voting equipment, checking voter registrations and identification,
... Poll watchers are volunteers representing candidates or political parties who are tasked with observing the voting process at each polling location. Poll watchers can alert poll workers to suspected voting infractions but are prohibited from interfering with or helping the poll workers or voters.
Just to be clear - though the checks are cut by the SOE's office, the moneys are reimbursed to the SOE by the city and in fact work for Pam Lopez and are hired by Pam Lopez. Not the SOE's office.
I got this straight from the SOE's office.
Ok, to be more clear--the City of Lake Worth paid around $16,000 and change for poll workers in the special election which I just reported a few days ago.
A campaign can have as many poll "watchers" as they deem important. They just have to register and go through the necessary steps to be accepted. If some campaign out there believes that funny stuff is going on, then by all means "watch." It is difficult to imagine that a polling precinct did not ask an offender to leave immediately if he did have on a campaign t-shirt. If this happened, and you say that it did, it was a rare occurrence and should never happen. They are there to watch and never speak.
Well actually, we can't have as many as we want in a location.
Only one watcher from each campaign can be in any location at any given time. I usually break them up into 3 - 4 hour shifts.
The problem was Pam had a misunderstanding about the t-shirts. As a voter, you can wear what you want and go vote. As a poll worker or watcher, it is not allowed.
Pam fixed the issue as soon as she was alerted. I like Pam I think she is a good clerk.
You are correct, it is a rare occurrence. In my case, a voter saw it and called me.
Yes, watchers should watch and not address a voter directly, but speak only to the poll supervisor and the campaign they are working for.
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