Making a Difference . . . at the Polls
November 1, 2015
We don’t get into politics at the WSJ Society or here on WSJSociety.com, but community contribution is in the DNA of our members. Richard Schreiner, member and retired Staff Engineer, Building Efficiency, passed along this idea for making a difference.
“For nearly ten years I have served as a City of Milwaukee Election Inspector (aka: poll worker). The city Election Commission contacted me and asked if the following announcement could be put in the 4th Quarter WSJ Society Newsletter. Can you do this?”
Yes, we can Richard. Here is the announcement Richard sent.
The City of Milwaukee Election Commission needs you and your great spirit of civic responsibility!
We are looking for dependable retirees residing in Milwaukee County to assist as election workers at voting sites throughout the city in 2016. Election work is non-partisan and provides an opportunity to meet new people and to showcase leadership in the community.
Retirees can apply to work as Chief Inspectors (supervisors of the voting site; must reside in the city) or Election Inspectors (must reside in Milwaukee County).
Among Election Inspectors’ duties are: greeting voters, verifying voters’ registration, issuing ballots, registering new/moved voters, site set-up/closing, etc. These are paid positions: $160/day for Chief Inspectors and $130/day for Election Inspectors. You must attend training which is also paid.
Fluent bilingual (English/Spanish or English/Hmong) retirees are encouraged to apply.
The election dates in 2016 are February 16th, April 5th, August 9th, and November 8th.
For applications and more information, visit www.milwaukee.gov/election
or contact: Dan Puhek, Election Worker Coordinator, at dpuhek@milwaukee.gov or 414-286-3491.
NOTE: If you are receiving a disability retirement, contact the ERS before contacting the Election Commission.
With some change in dates and details, this could well have been written in your community. I suspect there are good number of poll workers in our membership. If you have not considered this for contribution to your community, give it some thought. It’s work, a very busy day with problems to solve along the way. But, it’s necessary and important work.
You will meet lots of folks from your community, and there’s no better feeling than helping a new voter cast their very first ballot. And you’ll treasure that awesome sense of amazement when you see people with walkers, or wheelchairs, or any of those other impediments that might keep folks of lesser character home, smile and thank-you for being there to help them vote.
Checkout working at the polls in your community. It’s an amazing experience!