COVID-19 has shaken up the upcoming elections in a dozen different ways – including making it more difficult to staff them.
“If it wasn’t for COVID, I would never have thought of not doing it,” said Stan Zabierek, who for the last several years has volunteered as a ballot clerk, checking in voters as they come through the door.
Zabierek, 70, of New Ipswich, has been volunteering at the New Ipswich elections for five or six years, but due to his age and an underlying heart condition, he said his household has been very cautious, essentially self-quarantining, and only going out for essential shopping. That means no election volunteering for him this year.
He’s not alone.
New Ipswich Moderator Bob Romeril said the usual volunteers it takes to run an election are thin on the ground this year, as several regulars have notified they won’t be participating this year, out of concern of infection. With many of the usual volunteers being retirees, and thus potentially more vulnerable to the virus due to their age, it wasn’t a huge surprise, Romeril said, but it has left him scrambling to fill those positions.
It takes more people than you think to make the process run smoothly. Along with the elected positions of moderator and supervisors of the checklist, the Primary needs about 25 volunteer “inspector of elections” – a role that can be anything from a ballot clerk checking in voters, to greeters, to providing assistance to voters with disabilities, or helping independents voters return to an undeclared status after they’ve cast their ballot. With volunteers signing up for a four-hour shift at a time, it takes a significant number to cover the whole day.
Some long-time volunteers, such as Geri Nelson, 77, of New Ipswich, said they’re still going to participate. Nelson, who has been either an elected supervisor of the checklist or a poll volunteer since 2005, said voting is a privilege, and even if it’s only a small service, she wants to do her part in making it happen.
“This is important, and it’s perhaps more important this year than any other year,” Nelson said. “We are so blessed to be able to express our opinion and have our voice heard. It’s even more important this year to get out there and make sure that everyone can express those opinions.”
Nelson said she “didn’t have any concern” about COVID-19, saying, “I’ll wear a mask, I’ll use sanitizer. I just feel it’s very important to do. I’ll do whatever job is necessary.”
While there are stalwarts like Nelson, Romeril said there were 10 usual volunteers who notified the town they wouldn’t be volunteering this year because either they or someone they were in close contact with had concerns about the virus, plus a handful of other volunteers who didn’t specifically cite the virus, but aren’t helping out this year.
Michelle Pelletier, 37, of New Ipswich, said when she heard about the need, she decided to step up, not only volunteering herself to serve as an inspector of elections, but also calling several friends and rallying them. She said as she’s young, healthy, and willing to don the required personal protective equipment for several hours at a time – she felt she had a duty to make sure the show goes on.
“While I’m a big fan of mail-in voting, there are going to be people voting in person. It would be pretty awful for people to have to wait around, and to not be able to get people in and out as soon as possible because they don’t have the people they need,” Pelletier said. “If I’m able to do it, I might as well.”
Cindy Carter, 63, of New Ipswich, is also volunteering for the first time as a ballot clerk. A former nurse, she said she has faith that the protective equipment provided is enough to keep volunteers safe. She said she understands the fear – as a nurse, she worked through the AIDS crisis of the 1980s.
“I know how it is when something new and frightening comes out,” Carter said. “I wanted to help the local community some way and to show I’m not afraid to do it. This is my civic duty. I need to do this.”
Romeril has ordered additional protective equipment for poll workers from the state, and spent Tuesday afternoon constructing extra sneeze guard barriers with Deputy Moderator Earl Somero. Romeril said every precaution will be taken to protect those volunteers. Poll workers have access to gloves, surgical masks, face shields and sanitizer, and each voter will be given a folder for their ballot to reduce contact with the voting booth surfaces and a one-time use pen.
While New Ipswich currently has enough volunteers signed up to run the Sept. 8 primary, Romeril said they are still taking volunteers. There are also volunteers needed for the general elections in November, which, anticipating a larger turnout then the primaries require an additional 10 to 15 people to run.
New Ipswich residents interested in volunteering for a four-hour shift for either election may contact Romeril at Bob@romeriltax.com. If you are interested in volunteering in your own town’s election, contact your town’s moderator or clerk for more information.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.