Poll workers and voters are seen in Wisconsin’s primary election on Aug. 9. While experts say the majority of American poll workers are devoted to a fair and secure elections, some officials worry about poll worker interference.
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Poll workers and voters are seen in Wisconsin’s primary election on Aug. 9. While experts say the majority of American poll workers are devoted to a fair and secure elections, some officials worry about poll worker interference.
Alex Wroblewski / Getty Images
America relies on hundreds of thousands of temporary workers to staff polls during elections. But with misinformation running rampage sure cornersconcerned officials some staff poll may try to interfere with the voting process this fall.
The Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington, DC-based think tank, said: “There is growing concern that temporary election officers recruited and trained by organizations with nefarious intentions may be recruited and trained by organizations with nefarious intentions. undermine security and trust in the electoral process.” brief outlined security concerns ahead of the upcoming election. “Since 2020, there have been a number of isolated incidents in which provisional election workers attempted to sabotage election administration in pursuit of partisan goals.”
A character is working to recruit Cleta Mitchell, a conservative lawyer who tried to help former President Donald Trump overturn the results of the 2020 election.
And in Michigan’s Kent County, a Republican serving as a pollster for the first time was recently charged with two felony counts after allegedly tampering with a voting computer during that state’s August primary.
David Levine, electoral integrity member at the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund, said election deniers and disinformation spreaders are an unfortunate part of today’s political landscape. now. And while there’s reason to be concerned, he said, it’s important to note that the majority of Americans are almost 1 million employees poll are devoted patriots with no ulterior motives.
Levine told NPR: “I think the concern we’re seeing is that the ‘Big Lie’ is like a virus that has spread through nearly every segment of American society, including workers. public opinion polling. “But I think it’s important to note that there are very few cases of rogue probes. They’re isolated and you know, when they happen, they’ve been identified and addressed.”
Levine says potential pollsters with a degree of distrust of the election process may be doing the wrong thing for the right reasons – breaking the rules to make sure no one else is breaking the rules. occlusion.
Fortunately, the Center for Bipartisan Policy said in its summary, there are laws, guidelines and precautions that officials take to ensure a fair and safe election takes place. . Steps include training for temporary employees, a code of conduct and employee oath, as well as teamwork to supervise co-workers.
The center’s interpreter was unanimously endorsed by the BPC Elections Task Force, which includes state and local election officials from 20 states.
Joseph Kirk — a task force member and election supervisor in Bartow County, Ga., a mostly conservative county in the northwest corner of the state — said he trusts his team when it comes to hiring staff. prospect, and the county does not. There is a rigorous testing process. Instead, he relies on informational training and a code of conduct to ensure poll workers understand their roles and responsibilities.
And those who break the rules, Kirk told NPR, will have quick consequences.
“If they violate our code of conduct, we will take appropriate action,” he said. “I think it’s important for the community to know that we take that code of conduct seriously and hold ourselves to that standard.”
Kirk and his team also make sure missions are completed in teams of two, a key rule that Levine, of the Alliance for Guaranteeing Democracy, supports. This includes everything from opening devices to checking voters, using peer-to-peer accountability as a check and balance system.
Craig Latimer, Elections Administrator in Hillsborough County, Fla., said voters have been contacted with questions regarding conspiracy theories — some of them wanting to be more involved in the process. vote.
“We know there are skeptics who want to be pollsters,” Latimer told NPR. “Honestly, I have no problem with that. I want them to come in and see what the real process is.”
Latimer says it’s important to have experienced supervisors familiar with the process to watch out for any mischief or bad actors.
Levine published a report at the end of September about precautions election administrators can take to check poll workers and prevent potential mischief. This includes allowing poll workers to access only what they need and work as a team. Levine also recommends that jurisdictions allow nonpartisan observation, allowing the public to learn about the election process while monitoring toxic workers.
According to Levine, the worst-case scenario would be Americans losing faith in the election process due to pollster concerns and isolated incidents. He said the best way for the public to help prevent insider attacks is to appear on Election Day.
“I think it’s important for people to make sure they’re engaged in the process,” Levine told NPR. “And I think the higher the voter turnout, the less likely the bad guys can successfully interfere in US elections.”
NPR’s Miles Parks contributed reporting.
