Hall County is taking an unusual step to make sure polling places are staffed for the Nov. 3 general election: drafting people to work at the polls.
Hall County Election Commissioner Tracy Overstreet said the county drafted 60 people after struggling to maintain an adequate list of backup workers during the May primary. After granting exemptions and deferrals, about 45 remained on the list as of late September.
“This year, Hall County is the third county in the state of Nebraska to go to drafting poll workers,” Overstreet said in an interview. Douglas and Sarpy County have drafted poll workers.
Overstreet said she initially preferred to recruit people who volunteered to work at polling places. But during the primary, the county’s backup list dwindled to nothing by Election Day as workers encountered unexpected conflicts, including illness, medical procedures and work commitments.
Without backup workers available, Nebraska law allows election officials to recruit the first person who enters a polling place to help staff it for the remainder of the day, Overstreet said.
She decided drafting workers in advance would provide more preparation than relying on whoever happened to walk through the door.
“I thought drafting would probably be a little bit better, a little bit more prep than the first person who walks in the door on Election Day,” she said.
The county granted exemptions or deferrals to some of the 60 people who were drafted, including those with previously scheduled events, work commitments or health issues that prevented them from serving.
Some of the remaining workers will be assigned to polling places, while others will be available as backups.
Overstreet said people who want to volunteer can still contact the election office. Volunteers could take the place of people who were drafted.
“I’m sure the draftees would be very excited for you to come forward and say, ‘I want to be a poll worker,’” she said.
Overstreet acknowledged that not everyone welcomed being drafted. But she said serving as an election worker can offer a better understanding of how elections are conducted and the safeguards used to protect the process.
“Democracy is very much a participation activity,” she said.
According to the 2024 Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS), over 772,000 poll workers served during the 2024 general election, yet 48% of communities reported having a very or somewhat difficult time recruiting poll workers in their communities.
Some Nebraska counties have opted to eliminate in-person voting in favor of voting by mail in part because it eliminates the need for poll workers.
Overstreet said election training and firsthand experience can help people understand the checks and balances involved in administering elections.
“I think there’s a real comfort level for voters once they’ve worked on election,” she said.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Nebraska voters interested in serving as poll workers can contact their local county clerk or election commissioner. Poll workers are paid.