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Santa Fe County Clerk, Valerie Espinoza, invites Santa Fe County residents to become Election Workers.  Santa Fe County has 86 precincts staffed by poll workers for the June primary and the November general elections.  With an average of five workers for each precinct, the County needs about 430 people to tend the polls and voting machines, and to assist voters on Election Day.

When registering to vote, there is a “Yes” box to check showing willingness to be an election poll worker.  If residents do not know whether they are in the election worker database, call Lynn Gary, Election Worker Coordinator at 505-986-6379.

An election alert letter will be sent out in March to all registered Election Workers in the County database.  If appointed to a precinct, the Election Worker must attend Election School (about 3 hours) to learn the new – and old – guidelines.  Election School will be offered at various times and locations throughout the County.  

“This role must be taken seriously, and the rules and guidelines taught at Election School must be followed objectively and strictly” says Espinoza “Well trained and committed Election Workers assure citizens of the security and integrity of one of the most important democratic instruments in our system of government.”

Workers on Election Day are at their places anywhere from 13 to 16 hours.  Compensation for a Santa Fe County Election Worker ranges from $105 to $150 for the day, depending on training and responsibility.  A limited number of positions are available for citizens to assist during the early and absentee voting.  These take place for two to six weeks before each election and pay about $9/hour.

Election Workers play a vital role in the democratic process.

For more information, call Lynn Gary at 986-6379.