Elections need volunteers and the volun-told

A flag inside the Fargodome helps direct voters casting ballots in a 2023 vote on a Fargodome improvement sales tax. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

I was a teenage election official. 

Why? 

Because Dad made me. 

My dad, Bernard Beach, was in charge of finding the election officials for a primary election in Hillsboro Township in Traill County back in the 1980s. So, there I was, sitting in the old one-room schoolhouse that served as the Hillsboro Township voting precinct. 

The turnout was small. My dad did what he did best and took a nap. 

But we, volunteer dad and volun-told son, did our civic duty. I learned a little bit about the election process and I think I even got paid a few bucks. 

So what does that trip down memory lane have to do with the 2024 election? 

Donnell Preskey, executive director of the North Dakota County Auditors Association, told the North Dakota Monitor that some counties are struggling to find poll workers. 

A shortage of poll workers could affect how many polling locations are open on Election Day. With fewer polling sites comes longer drives to vote, which means more time and money and more reasons some people may not vote. 

Thinking about my dad and my experience, I thought, why don’t we make people do it – like being called for jury duty? 

Properly staffing elections seems like it should rank up there with meting out justice for legislators accused of self-dealing. 

As it turns out, Nebraska already gives counties the option of a system similar to a jury pool, according to Wendy Underhill of the National Conference of State Legislatures. 

North Dakota’s county auditors are in charge of running local elections but also count on volunteers to make Election Day go smoothly. 

There is some training involved for volunteers. For counties that have early voting, volunteers are needed for that, too. In either case, it’s not just a one-day deal.  

While they are often called volunteers, they are compensated for time for training and on Election Day.  

But like jury duty, those drafted could be reimbursed for mileage and employers could be required to grant the time off. 

Perhaps the Legacy Fund can be tapped to create the Bernard Beach Election Staffing Fund to compensate poll workers. 

Like attorneys seating a jury, the auditor could ultimately decide who from the pool ends up augmenting whatever volunteer force is found.  

People in the pool could offer an argument for why they should be excused from election duty. 

And, like it did for me, it would act as a sort of civics lesson. 

Preskey, however, is not a fan of the idea of drafting election workers. 

“I really want people there to fulfill that role that want to be there,” Preskey said. 

She added that it can be a very long day, with work continuing after the polls close for some.  While state law does allow there to be shifts of workers, Preskey said she thinks continuity is better. 

I think mixing in some draftees with the volunteers would be a good way to increase civic involvement, and I am confident people would do their duty, just as they do on jury trials. 

A final note about being a volunteer election worker – while you have to be 18 to vote, in North Dakota, you only have to be 16 to help at a polling precinct. 

You can learn more about volunteering as a poll worker on the Secretary of State’s website. 

For parents out there with kids who are 16 or older, think about a Bernie Beach move, volunteer, and volun-tell your kid to do it, too. 

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