It may seem a little early, but election workers are selected many months in advance of the actual elections. Because of heavy voter turnout in the past, many additional election workers will be needed for upcoming county elections. Many new election workers will be selected for 2009 and 2010, which necessitates an early start and monthly training meetings to ensure adequate time for recruiting and training. Recruiting, signup, and training is beginning now.



The Democratic Party in Gregg County is recruiting election workers for the 2009 and 2010 county elections at a training meeting open to the public on Tuesday, February 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Greggton Community Center located at 3211 West Marshall Avenue.



Hank Gilbert, former candidate for Commissioner of the Texas Agriculture Department, will be speaking at the meeting on the topic of paper ballots versus electronic voting. He will also be answering questions about the Trans Texas Corridor. The meeting is open to the public and there is no charge.



Election workers are paid an hourly fee. Anyone who is interested in working in an election and would like more information is encouraged to attend the February 10 meeting.



Recent changes in the Texas Election Code provide that election workers, including election judges, election clerks, and election officers, for all county elections are selected by the local political parties. The new provisions apply to election workers for early voting, as well as for election judges and clerks for election day.

Election workers include presiding election judges, alternate election judges, election clerks, and election officers. In addition, the local Democratic Party will be selecting election workers for the early voting ballot board, the signature verification committee, and for the central counting station. Many election workers are needed for the 2009 General Election and the 2010 Primary Election.



There is a shortage of bi-lingual Spanish and English election workers at all elections. Many more are needed.







Election workers receive an hourly fee for their work. Election workers are trained on the electronic equipment used at the polls and on checking in voters. Election workers are also trained on the paper work that election workers complete at the polls.



The qualification to be an election worker is to be a registered voter in the county. Selected election workers must also complete the required training. The first step is to attend the Tuesday election worker training meeting on February 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to sign up.



The election training meetings will continue to be held each month on the first Tuesday of the month from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Greggton Community Center located at 3211 West Marshall Avenue in Longview. Monthly recruiting and training meetings will ensure an adequate number of election workers for upcoming county elections.



The Democratic Party is recruiting at the second Tuesday election training meetings for the 2010 primary election as well as the 2009 General Election.



Early voting for the 2009 General Election in November will begin October 19 and continue through October 30. Election Day for the 2009 General Election is November 3. The local Democratic Party will be selecting election workers for 13 days and 23 polling locations for the 2009 General Election.



GreggDemocrats.com • telephone 903 759 6336 • e-mail: dems@greggdemocrats.com