DeKalb Senate Delegation recommends frontline pay for county poll workers

                                        State Sen. Emanuel Jones and DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond

ATLANTA — The DeKalb County Senate Delegation on June 11 voted unanimously to ask DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond to provide frontline pay to 1,000 county poll workers.

State Sen. Emanuel Jones, chairman of the DeKalb Senate Delegation, said poll workers are vital to our democracy and the voting process, and should receive frontline pay for their Election Day service during the June, August and November elections.

Thurmond agreed to the Senate recommendations, saying he would seek support– $250,000– from the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. The board will meet on June 16.

“Many experienced poll workers chose not to serve on Election Day during the Georgia Primary due to concerns around COVID-19,” Thurmond said. “Poll workers put their health and well-being at risk to provide an essential service for the citizens of DeKalb.”

The average DeKalb County poll worker earned approximately $230 per day for working the county’s 191 precincts on Election Day.

The Senate delegation said additional compensation would help improve recruitment and retention of experienced elections personnel in the upcoming runoff and general election.

If approved by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, DeKalb would be the first jurisdiction in Georgia to offer frontline pay to poll workers and other Election Day personnel.