Business, community groups sought to run polling stations

In anticipation of record turnout during November’s election, the Registrar of Voters is looking for additional help at the polls.

The San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters started a new program, Partners in Democracy, this election season to staff polling places with businesses or community groups, said Kari Verjil, the county’s registrar. The county plans to open more polling places for the Nov. 4 election and anticipates needing more help than those who volunteer through the regular poll worker program.

Through the program, a business, service organization or other community group can sign up to staff a polling place on election day. The county will provide training before the election, and fully staffed polling places will be paid $885.

“It gives groups a chance to work together,” Verjil said.

Verjil said the number of voters registered for the November election is up and the county expects a flood of registrants around September. She said presidential elections where an incumbent is not seeking re-election tend to draw larger crowds at the polls, but this year this is extra excitement surrounding the election.

The county will still operate its regular poll worker program during the election.

Verjil was not sure if another polling station would open in Barstow for the election. However, she said Barstow groups could still participate in the program.

State law requires poll workers to be at least 18 years old or at least a 16-year-old junior or senior in high school. Workers must also be able to read and write in English. The county is also looking for bilingual poll workers. During the election, poll workers must stay at the polls from 6 a.m. to after the polls close at 8 p.m.

To learn more about the Partnership in Democracy program, call (909) 387-8300. For more information on becoming a poll worker, visit the registrar’s Web site.

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