Poll Workers Get Long Awaited Raise

  • Poll worker Barbara Pennington holds a book of voter names while a Norman voter signs before receiving her ballot on March 7, 2023. Pennington has been volunteering as a poll worker for four years and said she has never worked the same location twice. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch)
    Poll worker Barbara Pennington holds a book of voter names while a Norman voter signs before receiving her ballot on March 7, 2023. Pennington has been volunteering as a poll worker for four years and said she has never worked the same location twice. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch)

    Poll workers have something to look forward to as we inch closer to the Aug. 27 runoff and Nov. 5 general election.

    Senate Bill 290, which doubles the daily compensation for precinct officials, took effect on July 1. Judges and clerks will receive $200 per day while inspectors will get $225 per election worked.

    As reported in October 2022 ahead of the November midterm, election day is grueling. Workers put in 13 to 14 hour days while facing the growing threat of harassment and intimidation. That has made it different for some county election boards to recruit and retain quality precinct officials.

    State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said the pay raise should help county election boards keep precincts wellstaffed.

    ““Precinct officials are vital to the success of elections,” Ziriax said in a statement. “We are extremely grateful to our state leaders for passing legislation that not only shows our current poll workers how much we appreciate them – but also supports recruitment and retention efforts across the state.”

    Another bill aimed at bolstering election day staffing, Senate Bill 1452, was signed into law in April. The measure, which will be in effect during the 2025 filing season, authorizes a $100 per day taxable income exemption for each day an employer gives an employee paid time off to work as a precinct official.