NORRISTOWN, PA — Montgomery County has announced a new initiative that they hope will improve voter registration while also leveraging college students as poll workers.
College students will be able to take part in a new work study program to help alleviate a critical shortage among poll workers.
“The 2024 election will test the strength of our democratic system even more than the unprecedented election of 2020,” Montgomery County Commissioner and elections chair Neil Makhija said in a statement. “Burnout and fear could set off a looming poll worker crisis, in addition to all the continued threats of voter suppression and disinformation.”
Makhija advanced the program after participating in a round table discussion with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House. He was among a small number of local leaders from around the nation invited to participate.
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Among issues discussed at the meeting, Harris touched on paying college students to work at polls as a way to address both the poll worker shortage and college students in need, but also to improve general voter participation among youth.
Montgomery County has about 2,500 poll workers currently registered. Numbers nationwide took a significant hit after the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, where looming threats of violence and social instability coupled with the pandemic to make the job less appealing than ever.
The county currently employs a number high school students for the job. The Pennsylvania Election Integrity Grant Program has provided the county with money to pay workers a competitive rate.
Officials say they plan to partner with local colleges once further details of the program are announced.
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