Path to the Polls: A Study of How Poll Workers Become Poll Workers

Abstract

Poll workers are responsible for the street-level implementation of American elections. The democratic process could not take place without them, as they are responsible for confirming voter eligibility, checking in voters once eligibility is confirmed, providing accommodations for voters with special needs, and assisting voters with any other logistical or technical issues in the process of casting their ballot. As they have so much responsibility, they also exercise considerable degrees of discretion in the process of voting. This makes it all the more remarkable that social scientists know little about who they are or where they come from. In an original study, we survey over 5000 poll workers in 19 counties across 10 states to examine the path to the polls for election workers. We test hypotheses examining pathways through impersonal pathways, such as media and outreach efforts by local elections offices, as well as through personal pathways, such as personal recruitment. We find that experienced poll workers were more likely to be recruited via personal pathways such as individual recruitment. New and inexperienced poll workers were more likely to have learned about becoming a poll worker through impersonal means such as media and official outreach. African American poll workers were more likely to report having been personally recruited or learned about being a poll worker through talking to people, regardless of their level experience.