Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
COVID-19 and massive numbers of mail-in and absentee ballots haven’t stopped Bucks Countians from stepping up to work polling places on election day.
Unlike other jurisdictions, Bucks County has not had to scale back the number of polling places open for voters from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The county will operate their normal number of about 300 polling places, staffed by roughly 1,800 citizens running the locations.
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Leading up to the June primary, the Bucks County Board of Elections heard from some older poll workers who wished to not work due to the pandemic. The county was able to gather more poll workers and many of those folks stuck around for the number election.
“Many of those new workers from June are returning, ” said Larry King, the county’s chief spokesperson. “There was more of an issue filling gaps in the primary, but we have a lot for November.”
Credit: James O’Malley/County of Bucks
The county has held a number of outdoor training sessions for poll workers in recent weeks to train the final batches of poll workers.
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The Board of Elections has agreed to increase pay for judges of election from $135 to $200, other elections officials from $105 to $195, and from $105 to $195 for constables for the general election.
Bucks County is home to 488,010 registered voters. The numbers break down to 208,879 Democrats, 198,631 Republicans, and 80,500 third-party or unaffiliated voters.
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A total of 198,364 mail-in and absentee ballots were requested by voters. As of last Wednesday, 58 percent had been returned.
Voters should wear masks at polling places and staff will as well. Sanitation measures will be in place at polling sites.
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