An Interview with a Poll Worker

By Melissa Kiel, Newsletter Correspondent
Poll Workers Needed

Poll workers are an invaluable asset on election day. They serve the public to help them navigate through the voting process on election day. Their duties include: registering voters upon entry, directing voters to the voter equipment, monitoring the voter equipment, issuing ballots to registered voters, and explaining how to mark the ballots. Poll workers must live in the county they serve.

John and Marilyn Fitzgerald are two local poll workers that have lived in Oakland for nearly 35 years, since 1987 when they moved into town. Marilyn shared that she has been working the polls for 15 years and her husband followed her lead shortly thereafter. Following in her parent’s footsteps, their daughter also served as a poll worker one year while she was home from college.

The Fitzgerald‘s usually work in Manito Elementary School but recently relocated to Valley Middle School. The decision to become a poll worker was as simple as responding to a letter in the mail soliciting the need for poll workers. The couple conveyed that the training involved two separate trainings for each the primary election and the general election. Trainings also included refresher courses as technology advanced which recently required training using iPads. 

The poll worker duo informed that they have the ability to assist those with disabilities by calling out directions from outside the booth but they are not permitted to actually enter the booth. Those with disabilities can however bring someone with them to accompany them into the booth. 

John and Marilyn relayed minimal issues on Election Day with the exception of a few voters expressing frustration when they recently moved and their new addresses were not updated. The couple expressed the days are long but working together is key. There is a lot of set up and take down involved. "All of the paperwork needs to be filled out correctly and the booths need to be functioning. There are always two booths in case one malfunctions. If a machine does malfunction, the Board of Elections in Hackensack or the town clerk of Oakland are available to assist. Additionally, county officials stop in every few hours to check in," Marilyn explained. 

The couple advised that they are not permitted to ask for ID, only the name and address of the voters. Should a voter offer their ID, the poll worker can then scan the barcode on the back of the license to make the process go quicker. I asked Marilyn if through the years of volunteering as a poll worker, had there been any wild and crazy stories they could share with us.  Marilyn just laughed and said "to be honest, most of the crazy stories are between the poll workers either arguing with one another or arguing over specific positions but I will leave those for another day...."  Marilyn, we may take you up on that one day!

The Fitzgerald‘s have one solid piece of advice for the voters… Arrive on time! The doors close promptly at 8 PM and no exceptions are permitted. 

To learn more about becoming a poll worker, please visit: https://nj.gov/state/elections/pollworker.shtml

Melissa Kiel is a Correspondent of the Oakland Borough Newsletter.