To: Board of Supervisors
From: Kristin Connelly, Clerk-Recorder
Report Title: Increase of the volunteer poll worker stipend in the Elections Division of the Clerk-Recorder Department
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE an increase, effective July 1, 2024, of the volunteer poll worker stipend in the Elections Division of the Clerk-Recorder Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% General Fund. The total increase in estimated cost for the 24/25 Fiscal Year is $55,275, funded 75% by general County revenue and 25% by Center for Tech and Civic Life grant funds. A portion of the cost for volunteer poll workers and election workers will be reimbursed by local agencies.
|
Description |
Current |
Proposed |
|
Inspector |
230 |
290 |
|
Clerk |
125 |
160 |
|
Roving Inspector |
400 |
400 |
|
Ballot Extraction, Ballot Clerk |
75 |
95 |
|
Depot Captain, Ballot Transport |
75 |
95 |
|
Depot Support, Ballot Transport |
50 |
65 |
|
Bilingual Services |
10 |
15 |
BACKGROUND:
The Elections Division is losing experienced poll workers and having challenges recruiting new volunteers due to an increase in responsibilities and competencies with evolving technology; low compensation in comparison to other jurisdictions in proximity to Contra Costa County; and increased hostility toward election volunteers.
Currently, Contra Costa County has one the lowest stipend amounts for election volunteers in the Bay Area, although having the third highest number of registered voters. An election volunteer Clerk’s stipend (in Contra Costa County) of $125 for a 15-hour shift on Election Day would not meet California’s current minimum wage. This makes it very difficult to recruit working-age adults who would need to take a day off from their daily employment. Working-age adults typically have the skills needed in our volunteers.
Poll workers do not need to be residents of the county they volunteer in, so remaining competitive with our neighboring counties is necessary to retain active volunteers and attract new ones.
Lastly, the current political climate and the scrutiny Elections Officials and volunteers have been under in recent times find many long-time volunteers ceasing to volunteer due to the fear of confrontation with unsettled voters compared to the compensation they receive. These challenges make it difficult to retain and recruit well-qualified and loyal election volunteers and put a great burden on the Election Division.
The Board of Supervisors last took action on poll worker stipends in 2014, when it increased stipend levels for Inspector, Clerk, Roving Inspector, Ballot Extraction Clerk, Depot Captain and Ballot Transport, and Bilingual Services.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to approve the increased stipends will hinder the department’s efforts to recruit and retain high quality, high performing, well-trained poll workers and election volunteers.