TULSA — Tulsa County election officials are short roughly 200 poll workers as they prepare for a slate of high-turnout elections later this year, the Tulsa World reported.
Election Board Secretary Gwen Freeman said the county currently has about 1,100 precinct workers but needs additional staffing to ensure all polling places are fully covered as state and federal races — along with state questions — are expected to drive voter turnout.
The gap is largely due to routine turnover following a series of smaller elections over the past year.
“After a year of that, we have a lot of precinct officials that dropped out … for one reason or another. So it’s just simple attrition,” Freeman told the Tulsa World.
Tulsa County operates 251 precincts, each requiring at least three poll workers — a judge, inspector and clerk — though larger elections often demand additional staff to manage heavier turnout.
Inspectors oversee polling site operations and handle ballot transport, while judges determine ballot eligibility and clerks distribute ballots to voters.
Freeman said having a larger pool of workers is critical to account for last-minute cancellations and no-shows on election day.
Inspectors are paid $225, while judges and clerks earn $200 per day, with some mileage reimbursement available. Workers must be registered Tulsa County voters and complete a one-day training course, which includes a $35 stipend.
While most poll workers are retirees due to the long hours required, Freeman said the county has recently seen increased interest from younger residents.
The Election Board plans to hold additional training sessions throughout the year, including July 7–9, as officials work to close the staffing gap ahead of upcoming elections.
Source: Tulsa World
