Lois Crittenden, St. Petersburg poll worker, Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Office.
By ELLEN MOSES
Published February 25, 2004
How did you get interested in working at a polling place?
A person from the supervisor of elections office was out looking for buildings to use for polling places, and I happened to be in our church office (30th Avenue Baptist). They also needed some other workers, so I became a poll worker at that time. I've spent my entire 22 years in that particular precinct, Precinct 145.
What are your hours on Election Day?
Our day begins very early. All precinct workers must be on the job at 6 a.m. at their polling places. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and then there is work to be done after 7 p.m. We usually go to about 8 or 8:30 in the evening. Oh, that's another thing, you're not allowed to leave. Once you arrive at 6 o'clock, we must bring every thing we need for the day. We bring our food, our medicine, change of shoes and that kind of thing. It's a very long day.
Do you set up voting machines ahead of time?
We now set up the machinery the day before.
How many people work in your precinct?
For the March 9 presidential preference we will have five, and for the big presidential election in November, we will likely have seven. But mine would be on of the smaller precincts, I would think.
On Election Day, what are your primary responsibilities?
As clerk, I am the person who is totally responsible for that precinct. Other positions include the machine manager, a deputy who stands outside, a demonstrator and inspectors who determine the eligibility of each voter when they sign in. The clerk and the machine manager also know how to troubleshoot the machines if there is a problem.
What kind of training did you have?
I've been clerk since Day One. In the beginning I just walked my way through it using the manual. Things have changed now. . . . We go through training for each election. Every poll worker must attend the class, and they are 4 hours.
What do you think of the change in recent years from punch card ballots to the touch-screen electronic voting booths?
Well personally, I like it much better, and our poll workers like it much better. Many, many voters comment on how easy the machines are to use.
What is your routine on Election Day?
At 6 a.m. we come in, and the clerk and the machine manager open the polls on the machines. We have to go through a process where we physically open the polls on the machines. They are unlocked at that time and they are opened and the two of us certify that every name that should be on the ballot is there. The other workers at that time are putting up signs and getting the other things ready that are needed. From 7 (a.m.) to 7 (p.m.) we are serving the voters as they come and go. If there is any kind of problem or any unusual situation with a voter, the clerk is the one that usually takes that voter aside and takes care of it. And there is a process for handling every little situation that might come up.
What are some unusual situations you have had to deal with?
Well, one may be a person who comes in and they do not have their picture and signature ID with them. They might be out running or jogging or something and think, "Oh, I'll just go vote." So we have a form that they can sign, stating that I am who I say I am, but I do not have my ID with me. But their name is on the register, so we can let them vote. Another thing is that people move, and they come back to where they have voted before and they think they should be able to vote. It is a felony to vote outside of where you live. If they have moved, the clerk has to call the (elections) office and they will tell us where that person should be voting.
Do you vote in the precinct where you work?
That does not happen to be my precinct. I'm like four streets away, so I have to vote absentee because I can't leave the precinct where I'm working to go vote.
What happens at the end of the Election Day?
If there is a long line, which might happen in November, then the deputy goes at 7 o'clock to the end of that line, and will declare that the polls are now closed. He becomes the end of the line, and everybody in line gets to vote, even if it takes another half hour. The deputy locks the door after everyone has voted and is out of the precinct, then the clerk and machine manager, and only those two people, close down the polls on each of the machines.
When was the latest you ever closed out a poll?
Well, that was it in 2002, when the governor declared we had to stay two extra hours. But normally, my particular precinct rarely has a line at 7 p.m.
What's your favorite part about the job?
Meeting the people. I'm just a people person and enjoy meeting the people. When you've been in a precinct so long, you pretty much know who will be coming. I've seen many of our older voters age over the years and some whose health has deteriorated, but they still make the effort to come, and we commend them for it. We don't see as many young people come in, and that bothers me.
What is your least favorite thing about the job?
The hours, I guess. I mean we're all there for 13 hours and we're not allowed to leave. You're pretty tired at the end of the day, but we start excited and try to stay excited.
How much money do poll workers make?
It depends on the position. Poll workers can make from about $80 up to $135 as a precinct clerk for the day of an election.
