County in Need of More Poll Workers

Volunteer poll workers are in short supply this year, and with the primary election less than two weeks away, Los Angeles County officials said Thursday they are anxiously trying to recruit more.

“We are in a crunch,” said Marcia Ventura, spokeswoman for the county registrar-recorder.

The registrar issued a call for new volunteers this week, saying that the county remains about 1,000 workers short of the 25,000 needed on election day to manage hundreds of polling places throughout the county.

Despite an increase in the stipend -- from $55 for the day to $80 -- volunteer ranks are particularly threadbare this year due to a number of factors, including the retirement of many longtime poll monitors, Ventura said.

“Many are now in their 80s and are no longer willing or able to serve,” she said.

New, unfamiliar voting equipment and the increased complexity of election laws have also propelled some longtime workers disenchanted with the change into retirement, she said. And an increase in the number of polling places doesn’t help. The county had 4,600 voting precincts; this year, there are more than 5,000, Ventura said.

Poll workers are especially needed in Agoura Hills, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Castaic, Glendale, Hermosa Beach, Lakewood, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Redondo Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Torrance and West Hollywood, she said. Speakers of Cantonese, Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese are in particular demand.

To volunteer, call (800) 815-2666 then press 7, or apply online at www.lavote.net.

Additionally, the registrar-recorder announced the opening of 17 touch-screen voting locations throughout the county this week, which will remain available to all voters through June 2. The screens give voters the option of voting early.

For locations and times, call (800) 815-2666 and press 1 or check www.lavote.net.