Election workers in Polk County get a pay bump
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Poll workers in Polk County will get an extra $1 per hour before November's elections, part of an effort to keep pay competitive with neighboring counties.
Why it matters: The county relies on hundreds of temporary workers to staff precincts, check in voters, issue ballots, and help keep Election Day running smoothly.
Driving the news: Supervisors approved the pay rates last week.
- Precinct election worker pay will increase to $16 and precinct election chair pay will increase to $18. The county's election costs will rise by an estimated $45,000 in the fiscal year that begins in July.
What they're saying: Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald told supervisors during a Jan. 6 budget presentation that the increase would help keep Polk competitive with surrounding counties.
- Basic poll worker pay among counties reviewed by Axios ranged from $10 in Warren to $15 in Jasper.
Flashback: Polk last agreed to raise pay in 2021 during a pandemic-era labor shortage.
The big picture: Counties nationwide face pressure to recruit, train and retain poll workers amid long Election Day shifts, election security concerns and threats against election workers.
- The raises help offset the extra work election workers are being asked to do in handling politically sensitive issues at polling places and helping voters move through efficiently, Fitzgerald tells Axios.
What's next: Polk's increase takes effect before November's general election, when demand for precinct workers typically rises.