Hall County Elections officials are applying new health and safety measures to their operations as they recruit poll workers for the upcoming election.
"We are working hard to make sure our poll workers and our voters are safe as they head to the polls," Hall County Elections Director Lori Wurtz said. "The democratic process is incredibly important-even in the midst of this national health pandemic, and we need people who are willing to help us facilitate that process in a safe and careful way."
Wurtz said her staff is implementing a number of measures in order to protect poll workers and voters.
"Each person in a precinct will be required to maintain six feet of distance between others," she said.
In addition, hand sanitizer will be available as voters enter and exit the polling place, and poll workers will be sanitizing machines between each voter.
"We have also set up virtual training opportunities for poll workers who have previously worked with us," said Wurtz.
She said signage has also been ordered, encouraging poll workers and voters to remain socially distanced, to cover their mouth when they cough, to wash their hands frequently and wear a mask if they have one.
The poll workers are needed for Election Day, June 9, and early voting, which begins May 18 and runs through June 5. For this election, early voting will be held at Gainesville Exploration Academy (located at 1145 McEver Road in Gainesville) rather than the Hall County Government Center in order to have enough space to implement appropriate social distancing measures in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to Gainesville Exploration Academy, early voting will be available at Spout Springs Library, North Hall Community Center and East Hall Community Center during the third and final week of early voting, June 1- June 5, as well as for statewide Saturday voting on May 30.
Poll workers are paid between $9 and $11 per hour depending on job assignments. In order to be a poll worker, you must be 16 years of age or older, a Hall County resident and a U.S. citizen.
Wurtz said there is a critical need for poll workers in general, but, as always, anyone who is fluent in Spanish is specifically encouraged to apply.
Anyone interested in serving as a poll worker is asked to contact Paige Thompson with the Hall County Elections Department at 678-696-2505 or pathompson@hallcounty.org.
In addition, a Poll Official Application can also be downloaded here.
A complete list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding the upcoming election can be found here.