Henrico election officials adapt to prolonged voting process

The increase in early voting has brought about a new type of election, Henrico County General Registrar Mark Coakley told the Citizen recently.

As the Nov. 8 midterms approach, poll workers and election officials are preparing for a post-pandemic election day with a new volunteer base working a prolonged voting process.

In a report by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 52% of jurisdictions nationally reported difficulty obtaining enough poll workers. But Henrico typically sees a sufficient volunteer service every election, and this year the county has more than enough workers, Coakley said.

“We've actually had to turn some people away,” Coakley said, adding that precincts in the county this year quickly filled their available spots.

Coakley and his colleagues were amazed by the increase in people signing up for election work, he said. Many of the volunteers are younger, which has helped counteract a decline in participation by retirees that Coakley attributed to pandemic precautions.

“I think it has to do with COVID ending,” Coakley said.

There are 12 to 14 different jobs at each polling site, including checking in voters, designating the ballots and handing out stickers.

“It's not just the person you see checking in, there's always behind-the-scenes activities that go on,” Coakley said.

And with early voting, election work goes on longer. Henrico has a group of early voting workers who work six to eight hours for 45 days, in addition to another team for Election Day, Coakley said.

In addition to congressional races, county residents are voting on a four-part bond referendum asking them to consider approval of more than $511 million in funding for county capital projects, including new and renovated schools, firehouses and parks.

This year, the election preparation and training process has remained relatively the same, said Emily Fagan, the precinct chief at Colonial Trail Elementary School in Glen Allen.

For Fagan, who has worked the polls almost every year since 1996, the job is less about politics and more about the process of voting. She views it as a way to give back to her community. Fagan also has seen that sense of community in the new mix of younger residents who have joined the ranks of poll workers.

In Henrico, the young workers also include high school students who volunteer as precinct pages. They learn about elections while helping out with tasks including passing out “I voted” stickers and managing the lines. Fagan called them “unsung heroes for Election Day.”

The increased focus on polling places nationwide is reflected in worker training that includes everything from equipment instruction to safety and de-escalation techniques, Coakley said.

The U.S. Department of Justice has reported a rising wave of harassment and intimidation against election officials, workers and volunteers ahead of the midterm elections. But, Coakley said Henrico has not dealt with any Election Day threats.

“We haven't had to de-escalate any situation at a polling place so far,” Coakley said. “I think that the voters and the poll workers respect each other and can handle all situations.”

In de-escalation, “you remain calm,” Coakley said. “You know, de-escalate any tense situations that might come up using your tone of voice, body posture, things like that, just the basics that people will have, when tense situations do arise.”

Coakley supported legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner that would provide states with the resources to recruit and train election workers and ensure these workers’ safety, while also instituting federal safeguards to shield election workers from intimidation and threats.

Fagan added that she’s never experienced any threatening behavior.

“We don't typically have that issue in Henrico.”

Long voting lines can cause frustration, she said, but that's not typically the case in a non-presidential election year. Virginia also tends to have shorter ballots, which can speed voting.

“I look at our precinct and the workers there as providing a customer service, and the voters are our customers,” she said. “So we try to make it as pleasant an experience as possible.”