Travis County Needs Election Day Workers

You wouldn't think this would be the case given the pathetic turnout thus far (over six days of early voting, barely over 1% of Travis County registered voters have cast ballots), but the county clerk insists she needs many more workers on Primary Election Day (Tuesday, March 2). Early voting continues through Feb. 26. Press release from the county:

DeBeauvoir Issues Urgent Call for Election Day Workers

Austin — Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said today that her office urgently needs election workers to conduct the Joint Primary Election that will be held Tuesday, March 2.

“The Democratic and Republican parties have been recruiting election staff, but we need about 250 more workers to fill positions in precincts across the county,” DeBeauvoir said.

The Elections Division needs workers who can serve as polling place Judges, Alternate Judges, and Clerks for the Democratic and Republican parties on Election Day from 6:00 am through 8:00 pm on Tuesday, March 2. Additional training is required and will be provided.

DeBeauvoir said that recruiting for joint Primary elections is challenging because of the added number of workers required for each precinct.

“In Primary elections, workers for each political party serve voters at separate check-in stations, so we need twice the number of workers,” DeBeauvoir said.

Although election workers “volunteer” for these positions, workers are paid $8.50 for their work on Election Day. The rate of pay is set by the Texas Legislature for Primary elections.

DeBeauvoir cited 10 precincts that have no staff assigned and urgently need Election Day Judges, Alternate Judges and Clerks to manage the polling places. These 10 precincts include:

123 - Southwest Key, 6002 Jain Lain

240 - Highland Park Elementary School, 4900 Fairview Dr

275 - Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 4001 Speedway

277 - University Co-op, 2246, 2246 Guadalupe

343 - Alara Canyon Creek (New), 8225 N 620

379 - Steiner Ranch Elementary School, 4001 Quinlan Park Rd

404 - Blazier Elementary School, 8601 Vertex Boulevard

405 - Ojeda Middle School (New), 4900 McKinney Falls Parkway

407 - South Rural Community Center, 3518 S FM 973

411 - Akins High School, 10701 S 1st St

To be eligible to serve as a Primary election worker, a person must be a registered voter of Travis County.

For further information, prospective workers should contact the Travis County Clerk’s Elections Division at 854-4996.