Most Americans confident in poll workers: 2022 survey

( NewsNation ) — As Election Day approaches, election officials from coast to coast are spending more than ever on security measures to protect their people and the process. But do we trust the people collecting and counting our votes? Based on a two-year-old survey, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

Nearly 90% of registered voters surveyed in 2022 by Pew Research said they were “very” or “somewhat” confident in the people working at their local polls. Of the rest, 8% said they were “not too” confident, and 3% said they were “not at all” confident in poll workers.

By contrast, just 77% percent said they were very or somewhat confident in their state election officials.

Republicans were a bit more skeptical than Democrats, with 39% of responding Republicans saying they were very confident in poll workers, while 60% of Democrats agreed.

Just 22% of Republicans were very confident in election officials, while 44% of Democrats said so.

More than 600,000 people worked in various temporary jobs leading up to and on Election Day in 45 states and the District of Columbia. Data from three states wasn’t available, and two states — Oregon and Washington — conduct elections completely by mail.

Poll workers perform a variety of tasks, including setting up voting equipment, greeting and checking in voters, confirming voter ID and registration and counting ballots.

Election officials, on the other hand, are those who are elected or appointed to full-time jobs in state and county elections departments. They are the ones who recruit and train poll workers and maintain voter rolls.

A third group is active on Election Day and during the time it takes to count all the votes: Poll watchers. They are usually appointed by political parties to observe the process, especially ballot counting.

Most poll workers must be of voting age. Some states require them to be registered voters. Others set requirements such as being of “good reputation.” Elected officials, candidates and their families are generally barred from being poll workers. Convicted felons are usually barred, as well.

Nearly every state continually recruits people to work at polling sites. The pay varies from state to state, and some experience severe shortages come Election Day.

The Pew survey from 2022 reflects the answers of 5,098 registered voters and had a margin of error of 1.7%.

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