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Poll workers may be absentees

October 5, 2004
By: Evan Godt
State Capital Bureau

You might know how you are going to vote next month, but there officials don't know who will be there to take your ballot. Evan Godt reports from Jefferson City.

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Across the state, many local officials are struggling to find people to work polling places on election day.

Officials say part of the problem might be connected to the fact that poll workers have to face a very long election day. Working from morning set up to turning in the ballots requires about 14 to 15 hours of a worker's time.

St. Louis County Board of Elections Director David Welch believes the long work day is a necessary part of maintaining our freedom.

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Contents: I think it's time that people see this as a patriotic duty and something they can do to make democracy work.

Workers are responsible for collecting ballots as well as assisting voters and checking for those pesky hanging chads.

From the state Capitol, I'm Evan Godt.

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While Missourians are scrambling to get their voter registrations in, election officials are having a hard time finding people to take their ballots. Evan Godt reports from Jefferson City.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Across the state, many local officials are struggling to find people to work polling places on election day.

Officials say part of the problem might be connected to the fact that poll workers have to face a very long election day. Many people can't leave their normal jobs to work the polls for the 15 or more hours required to run them.

St. Charles County Elections Director Rich Chrismer is looking for ways around the work day conflict.

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Contents: Thats a very long work day and few people can give a complete day so we depend on retirees.

Election officials across the state are hoping that younger people come out to work on election day. Chrismer says that his county has managed to partially avoid the shortage by getting help from local college students.

From the state Capitol, I'm Evan Godt.

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While Missourians are scrambling to get their voter registrations in, election officials are having a hard time finding people to take their ballots. Evan Godt reports from Jefferson City.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Across the state, many local officials are struggling to find people to work polling places on election day.

With record registration for this election, many polling places will need extra workers to help voters.

Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren says that presidential elections have their own set of problems.

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Contents: The turnout for a presidential election has a higher percentage of problems because there are a lot of new voters and a lot of people who haven't voted for four years.

Workers are responsible for collecting ballots as well as assisting voters and checking for hanging chads.

From the state Capitol, I'm Evan Godt.