Residents in Black Hawk County have stepped up to work the polls on Election Day. | Stock photo
Residents in Black Hawk County have stepped up to work the polls on Election Day. | Stock photo
With many who normally volunteer to work the polls during the election season in Black Hawk County being those at greatest risk of the worst consequences of a COVID-19 infection, the county faced a serious shortage of poll workers heading into November.
In July, approximately 40% of past poll workers responded to a county survey by saying they would not be comfortable working the polls this year due to the coronavirus, according to coverage by The Courier.
Yet, after a new recruitment drive in cooperation with the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office and national organizations, the county was able to find the people it needed to pull off the election, Karen Showalter, elections director for Black Hawk County, told The Courier. Approximately 300 local residents applied, and 250 were hired.
“This community really just stepped up to the need,” Showalter told The Courier.
She said that the current ratio works out to approximately half of poll workers being new, and they will be paired with experienced poll workers on Election Day.
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