Jackson BellAs state election officials scramble to...
Jackson Bell
As state election officials scramble to prepare for Tuesday’s special
election to recall Gov. Gray Davis, registered voters in Burbank and
across the county are being asked to volunteer as poll workers.
“Since this is an unexpected, special election and turnout may be
higher than usual, we need dedicated people from every community to
help us, and help their neighbors, to ensure a successful election,”
Secretary of State Kevin Shelley said in a written statement issued
this week.
Terri Carbaugh, a spokes- woman for Shelley, said Los Angeles
County election officials need to recruit poll workers more quickly
because of the shortened amount of preparation time. She said it has
had about 70 days to prepare for his election, compared to the usual
five or six months.
Grace Chavez, a spokes- woman for the Los Angeles County Registrar
of Voters, could not provide specific information on voters who have
volunteered in Burbank, but said the county is still accepting
volunteers. Chavez said an average of six to nine poll workers are
needed for each of the county’s 1,786 voting locations.
“Being the biggest county in the United States, our needs are
obviously far greater than some of the other counties,” she said.
Those who are interested in volunteering as poll workers can
contact the L.A. County Registrar of Voters at (800) 815-2666 or log
onto www.lavote.net for more information.
People who are bilingual are especially encouraged to volunteer.