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 reta...
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