Lincoln Parish Clerk of Court discusses steps to become certified poll worker

RUSTON, La. (KTVE/KARD) – Across Louisiana, polling locations are seeing a shortage of poll workers and are encouraging residents to become certified.

Depending on the size of the location, around 300 hundred commissioners are typically needed to keep the voting process running smoothly. KTVE/KARD spoke to the Lincoln Parish Clerk of Court for details on what the job of a poll worker entails.

The commissioner works the election process. So when a voter comes in to vote they present the precinct register book for them to sign their names and then they go through the election process that way. Then there’s a commissioner in charge as well that is over the commissioners that oversees all the elections, that make sure it’s going good. If there’s any problems she would contact the clerk of court.

Linda Cook, Clerk of Court | Lincoln Parish

For federal elections, a commissioner’s shift begins a little after 5:00 a.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m. Although the job of a poll worker is extremely important, it is quite simple to receive certification. Cook provided information about the qualifications needed to be a poll worker.

You have to be a registered voter of your parish, a qualified voter or a seventeen year old in the twelfth grade, not be a candidate or a relative of a candidate in the election, not been convicted of an election offense, not a law officer, and clerk of court training and pass a test that has a ten to fifteen questionnaire.

Linda Cook, Clerk of Court | Lincoln Parish

The job of a poll worker also pays well. Cook stated that certified commissioners make around $200 a day, and commissioners In charge could make up to $300 a day, depending on their experience.