More poll workers needed in Kanawha, 17 other counties: WV Secretary of State

Kanawha County is one of 18 West Virginia counties in need of more poll workers for the November 2024 election, state officials said.Photo byPhil HearingonUnsplash

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County is one of 18 West Virginia counties needing more poll workers for the upcoming General Election in November, the state Secretary of State’s office said Thursday.

“Statewide it takes over 8,000 total paid poll workers of all political parties to run an election,” Secretary of State Mac Warner said in a statement, issued just weeks before the Nov. 5 election.

West Virginia poll workers and alternates, including those in Kanawha County, are paid a set amount for training and working. In the May primary election, Kanawha County poll workers received $60 for training and $200 for working on election day.

The state has an online form where interested candidates can sign up to be a poll worker. Kanawha County citizens may also call the county clerk’s office at 304-357-0130 for information on registering for the open positions.

According to the Secretary of State’s website, poll workers must:

• Be registered to vote in the county;
• Be able to read and write in English;
• Attend training; and
• Be available to work all of Election Day.

Residents may check their voter registration status online. The deadline to register to vote in the November elections is Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.

Voters may register or update their information online, by mail, or at their local voter registration office. The Kanawha County voter registration office is located at 415 Quarrier St. in Charleston.

Kanawha residents can email the county clerk's office at info@kanawha.us for more information.

After registering to be a poll worker, selected candidates will be contacted to schedule an in-person training.

Other counties bordering Kanawha County, including Boone and Fayette counties, are also seeking more poll workers, the secretary of state’s office said.

“Poll workers play a critical role in ensuring elections are run properly and securely,” Warner said. “I strongly encourage any voter who is interested in playing a role in this upcoming presidential election to sign up.”

Michael Ramsburg is a Kanawha County communities reporter. He can be reached at ramsburgreports@gmail.com or by calling 304-370-3067.