Contact: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Alternate: David Tom, Interim Elections Division Manager

(Redwood City, CA) Mark Church, San Mateo County’s Chief Elections Officer and Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, announced that the Registration & Elections Division will train approximately 2,200 Poll Workers for the November 8, 2016 Presidential General Election, including 600 students. Poll Workers, also referred to as Election Officers, will manage 342 precincts on Election Day.

“Interest in Presidential Elections usually spurs more people to get involved as Poll Workers. Civic-minded individuals step up to help conduct the ‘once-every-four-year election’ in a fair, transparent and nonpartisan way,” said Mark Church. “Remarkably, there are still neighborhoods in San Mateo County that need Poll Workers,” added Church.

To serve as a Poll Worker, individuals may call 650.286.2810 or apply online at www.shapethefuture.org under the Election Officers tab. Potential Poll Workers must attend a two and a half to three-hour training session in October or November. The training schedule and sign-up application are also online and available by phone.

Two different classes are offered to Poll Workers depending on their level of expertise:

• Introductory Class is designed for Poll Workers who are new or have very little experience working at the polls on Election Day. The Poll Workers will learn basic poll operations and receive hands-on training in assembling, operating, and breaking down the eSlate voting equipment. Classes are held at the Registration & Elections office at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo.
• Refresher Class is designed for Poll Workers who have worked on at least two elections. This class is a review of voting equipment and procedures with hands-on exercises on all poll activities built into the curriculum. Classes are held at the Registration & Elections office and eight other public facilities throughout the county.

Additionally, all Poll Workers have the opportunity to gain experience on any Election Day procedure in a Practice Lab. “The Practice Lab is designed to simulate an active polling place experience so that Poll Workers have hands-on practice prior to Election Day and are well-prepared to serve the voters of San Mateo County,” Church explained. “There is a great deal of interest in this election and our Election Officers will be ready for an expected influx of voters.”

Poll Workers receive a stipend ranging from $115.00 to $140.00 for the day, plus $25.00 for the time in training class, if they serve on Election Day. Any Poll Worker who travels out of their city to serve in a precinct elsewhere will receive an $8.00 bonus and Inspectors receive a $7.00 bonus for picking up their precinct supplies.

For more information about the November 8, 2016 Presidential General Election, please call 650.312.5222, visit www.shapethefuture.org or follow @smcvote on Twitter.

The press release is displayed in its original format. San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections website now resides at www.smcacre.org