[EL] Open letter from public health and election experts

[Stephanie Singer]

What are the possibilities, pros and cons for drafting people to serve as poll workers?

Stephanie Singer <https://www.pdx.edu/profile/stephanie-singer>
Research Assistant Professor, Portland State University
Former Chair, Philadelphia County Board of Elections

> On Jun 18, 2020, at 11:03 AM, Paul Gronke <paul.gronke at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> In response to Prof. Richman, I agree that maintaining some level of in-person voting is vital, but I don’t think its realistic to expect that all ordinary polling locations will be maintained, for a couple of reasons.
> 
> 1) As Prof. Kousser points out, recruitment of a new generation of poll worker, while ABSOLUTELY important, may not be as easy at it seems. 
> 
> 2) Some states and local jurisdictions may not have access to their traditional polling locations — assisted living facilities and schools most notably. It may be possible for states to require continued access to these facilities, but I’m skeptical that this will be legally or politically feasible. 
> 
> 3) It may not be financially possible, or even administratively wise, to maintain historical levels of precinct place voting when absentee balloting increases tenfold, as it has in a number of primary states. The funding just isn’t there. 
> 
> So I agree completely with what Professor Richman argues in principle, but in practice, I think states and local jurisdictions, IF they will engage in a process of precinct consolidation, need to engage in the practice as soon as possible and give voters, campaigns, and mobilization organizations as much advance warning as possible so as to minimize confusion and avoid voter disenfranchisement. 
> 
> 
> ---
> Paul Gronke
> Professor, Reed College
> Director, Early Voting Information Center
> http://earlyvoting.net <http://earlyvoting.net/>
> 
> General Inquiries: Laura Swann swannla at reed.edu
> 
> Media Inquiries: Kevin Myers myersk at reed.edu
> 

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