Calling All Who Care: Our Democracy Needs You!

Friends, we need you! According to Fulton County, Georgia officials, they need more than 2,000 poll workers for the upcoming elections. That’s just in ONE county. Can you imagine the deficit across our nation … in your own community?

I had the privilege of serving as a poll worker (an assistant precinct manager) for the first time during the 2020 Presidential Election. “Powerful” and “Proud” barely begin to sum up the stir of emotions I felt after serving. You, too, can experience these same feelings, and (more importantly) our communities are counting on physically able, professional, and passionate people like us to get off the sidelines and do our part to build access to our voting rights.

Many have attributed poll workers as the lifeblood of America’s election system. Without them, voters may experience longer lines, faulty machines, fewer polling location options, and more. This honored position only comes with a few requirements. In Georgia, to serve as a poll worker, you must:

• Be a citizen of the United States

• Be at least 16 years of age

• Be able to read, write, and speak the English language

• Not hold public office or be a candidate for public office

• Be able to solve problems

• Be an effective communicator

• Not be an immediate relative of any candidate for public office

• There may also be training required in your specific county.

My Empowering Experience:

I can’t lie; I was mentally and physically exhausted after the long Election Day 2020 shift. But, the feelings of fulfillment and genuine contribution outweighed it all. The impact and memorable voter experiences we created as a precinct team for Atlanta’s Cleveland Ave. community will forever be etched in my advocacy journey. I’ll never forget my brothers and sisters from Cleveland Ave. — a neighborhood full of #BlackGirlMagic and #BlackBoyJoy, that has unfortunately been overlooked and underserved for years (80+% of the children in this area live in poverty).

I vividly remember my gratitude for the voters I met in 2020. They will never know that they reminded me of my “Why.” Despite centuries of being continually failed by systemic racism and unjust systems, their resilience and determination to vote helped me maintain my momentum on Election Day 2020 and as I finalize the details for this very civic engagement Purpose Project. I was (and still am) grateful to the Cleveland Ave. voters who allowed our diverse team of passionate poll workers to come together to serve them! They trusted us with their first-time voters, questions about the voting process, and even to sing “Happy Birthday” to some and share snacks, laughs, and love with others.

Ready to do your part and be a Poll Worker? Sign up today, by:

• Google searching election contact information or visit www.powerthepolls.org to review your state and county’s specific requirements.

• In Georgia? Contact your county Elections Office. Their contact information is listed by county on the Secretary of State’s website.

  • Navigate to sos.ga.gov > Elections > Voter Info. > Contact: Elections Supervisor and select your county from the drop-down.