The Metro Atlanta Chamber kicked off a targeted initiative aimed at attracting new poll workers for the upcoming November general election. This program aims to drive metro Atlanta employees and residents to www.GaPollWorker.com where they can submit information to become a poll worker.
While the Chamber is focused on Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett and Cobb Counties, all residents who sign up to be poll workers will be connected with the board of elections in their county, which is a requirement of Georgia law.
This initiative comes at a critical time after MAC spoke out in response to voters experiencing unprecedented wait times and difficulties during the Georgia primary election in June. Those interested in being poll workers must sign up by Sept. 15 so that county election boards have enough time to train workers before early voting begins in October.
“It’s no secret how important it is for all citizens in all communities to exercise their right to vote. We are each in a unique position to use our vote to shape our region’s future and affect positive change,” said Katie Kirkpatrick, the president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “The talent within our region’s major corporations and our small and medium-sized businesses creates the perfect opportunity to mine for highly-qualified poll workers who can make a meaningful impact on election day.”
While all eligible workers are welcome, this program seeks tech-savvy candidates, who can help operate Georgia’s new, state of the art, electronic voting machines during what is anticipated to be a record turnout election.
Additionally, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chamber’s program aims to attract younger people to fill a void left by older workers with underlying conditions who may not volunteer as poll workers this election season. The average age of Georgia poll workers is over 70.
This initiative is just one aspect of MAC’s larger focus on public policy and driving civic engagement. With every major election, the Chamber updates www.votemetroATL.com to provide an objective overview of candidates and ballot issues. The organization is also a member of the Committee for a Better Atlanta which provides voters with information to make informed decisions when electing Atlanta’s mayor and city councilmembers.
“Knowing that election outcomes play a critical role in the social and economic prosperity of our region, we have a responsibility to empower our community to make educated decisions when it comes to voting,” said Dave Williams, the senior vice president for government affairs, infrastructure and public policy at the Chamber.
All poll workers will be compensated.
For more information on the Chamber’s broader policy and advocacy efforts, visit https://www.metroatlantachamber.com/public-policy/elections and www.macpolicy.com.
