Linda Hlucky celebrates 25th year as a poll worker, looks ahead to 30th

Posted on April 24, 2018April 24, 2018 by Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

We’ve asked some of our long-time poll workers to share their stories as part of our poll worker spotlight series. Last year, Linda Hlucky celebrated her 25^th year as a poll worker. She loves serving her neighbors and has many fond memories. She looks forward to celebrating her 30^th anniversary in 2023! Continue reading to learn more about her experience.

The following responses have been paraphrased.

How long have you been serving as a poll worker?
25 years

What brings you back each year?
I have enjoyed working at the voting booth at Thoreau Park Elementary School. I enjoyed other locations as well that were in walking distance from my home. I enjoy having a nice polling location manager. Overall, I am a dependable and loyal worker, and I get along with other workers and voters.

What are some of your most memorable moments as an Election Official?
I have had many celebrations as a poll worker! We celebrated when I reached my milestone years (10^th year in 2003, 15^th year in 2008, and 20^th in 2013). In November of 2016 we celebrated my 25^th year and my sixth presidential election. My polling manager surprised me with a cake, and we enjoyed food and taking pictures.

What is your favorite part about being an Election Official?
I love being hired back each election to help voters that come to vote at the voting booth. Many voters are friendly and patient. I also enjoy assisting on the evening before Election Day to set up booths and paperwork during the organizational meeting. Election Day is very exciting.

Describe the energy at polling locations on Election Day.
In my experience, Election Day is always very busy with voters from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Poll workers are happy to help them out when necessary. The other poll workers and I all get along well together.

Why is being an Election Official important to you?
I use the extra money as I am on a very tight budget. I also enjoy seeing other workers as we all get along very well together.

Did you feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day? Can you describe this?
Yes, I definitely feel a sense of accomplishment. I enjoy working at the polls, but I am very tired when I go home. I go to bed early and look forward to working future elections.

What is it like to know you made a difference in our electoral process?
It makes me feel great to be at the polls in a friendly atmosphere, getting along perfectly with other works and voters. I enjoy working very much, knowing I am helping voters.

Why, in your opinion, should others become Election Officials?
It is a great experience working to help voters. You can earn extra money and it’s only twice a year.

Please share any additional thoughts you have about being an election official.
It’s hard to believe I celebrated my 25^th anniversary as a poll worker in 2017! I want to make it to 30 years or longer. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work for so many years. It’s been a great experience for me!

Learn More
We are now accepting applications for poll workers for the May 8 Primary Election. To be considered for this honorable service, please apply online or call 216-443-3277 for more information.

To view all of the stories in our poll worker spotlight series, click here.

Traci Schmidt is proud to have served eight elections as poll worker

Posted on April 11, 2018April 11, 2018 by Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

We’ve asked some of our long-time poll workers to share their stories as part of our poll worker spotlight series. Traci Schmidt has worked the polls for eight elections and continues to come back to fulfill her civic duty and help her neighbors. Continue reading to learn more about her experience.

The following responses have been paraphrased.

How long have you been serving as a poll worker?
Four years (eight elections)

What brings you back each year?
I am fulfilling my civic duty.

What are some of your most memorable moments as an Election Official?
I have had the pleasure to work with some very interesting and accomplished people over the years. Three of my children have also been poll workers, including two that went through the Parma High School student poll worker program.

What is your favorite part about being an Election Official?
I enjoy working the polling location that I vote in. It provided a sense of community by meeting and serving my neighbors.

Describe the energy at polling locations on Election Day.
The amount of energy really depends upon the type of election; Primary vs. General Election or Presidential Election. I think poll workers do a great job trying to make Election Day a positive experience for all voters.

Why is being an Election Official important to you?
When I first became a poll worker, it was important for me to see the electoral process from the inside. I really value all the security measures in place to ensure our elections are fair.

Did you feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day? Can you describe this?
I used to like balancing the ballots, stubs and poll books, and felt a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day when everything balanced. We don’t have to do this anymore, though. I also enjoyed working as a Voting Location Deputy (VLD) and felt a sense of accomplishment after a successful Election Day.

What is it like to know you made a difference in our electoral process?
I am proud to serve is this small way.

Why, in your opinion, should others become Election Officials?
I think working an election can really increase your confidence in our electoral process.

To view all of the stories in our poll worker spotlight series, click here.

Mary Dubber has helped her neighbors vote for 45+ years

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

We’ve asked some of our long-time poll workers to share their stories as part of our poll worker spotlight series. Mary Dubber has been working the polls for nearly all of her adult life. She finds great fulfillment in helping her neighbors take part in voting. Continue reading to learn more about her experience and see what it’s like to work the polls.

The following responses have been paraphrased.

How long have you been serving as a poll worker?
I started working the polls when I was 20 years old, more than 45 years ago.

What brings you back each year?
There are many reasons I come back for each election. I like that I am assigned to a location close to home and I have made many friendships. I also enjoy the voting education I have received and am interested in the policies involved with elections and voting.

What are some of your most memorable moments as an Election Official?
Years ago our voting location was featured in “The Plain Dealer” which was exciting. I also remember when the mayor of Lakewood visited us on Election Day. A few other memories include seeing coworkers again, the ever-changing voter turnout and a few stormy wintery days.

What is your favorite part about being an Election Official?
I appreciate having great coworkers that help one another throughout the day. I enjoy watching the returns. Of course, the pay, too.

Describe the energy at polling locations on Election Day.
Mornings can be a little hard, but our wonderful co-manager keeps it all together with energy and interest. He helps to keep us going all day long.

Why is being an Election Official important to you?
Being an Election Official is important to me because I am able to fulfill a civic duty. It is important to me that I am part of the process.

Did you feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day? Can you describe this?
Yes! After all of the balancing is done I feel a sense of pride and fulfillment.

What is it like to know you made a difference in our electoral process?
It is a good feeling. We all hope we did a decent job helping voters and fulfilling our duties.

Why, in your opinion, should others become Election Officials?
Being an Election Official gives you an opportunity to work with your neighbors for the good of our country and to take an interest in who should be in charge of our political affairs.

Please share any thoughts you have about being an Election Official.
When I started to work the polls, it was required for someone to sponsor you. Back then, and still now, there was a feeling of pride and accomplishment. Of course, the stipend is always appreciated!

To view all of the stories in our poll worker spotlight series, click here.

Alicia Alto is passionate about helping others exercise their right to vote

Posted on March 2, 2018March 14, 2018 by Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

We’ve asked some of our long-time poll workers to share their stories as part of our poll worker spotlight series. Throughout the years, Alicia Alto has made great memories serving her community as a poll worker, and encourages everyone who is able to try it out. Continue reading to learn more about her experience and see what it’s like to work the polls.

How long have you been serving as a poll worker?
Since 2013.

What brings you back each year?
The feeling and knowledge that my participation in election facilitation is an important role in our society’s success.

What are some of your most memorable moments as an Election Official?
As a Voting Location Manager, I have great memories of meeting new precinct election officials (PEOs) who are working for the first time – and then seeing them return at the next election. I also love hearing from other PEOs who have been working for longer than I have even been able to vote. A lot of folks take great pride in their role in election facilitation.

What is your favorite part about being an Election Official?
My favorite part of being an Election Official is meeting like-minded individuals who also feel a sense of responsibility to do this civic duty. There is great opportunity to learn from their experiences, both in regards to working an election and in regards to life outside of the election.

I also love meeting and seeing regular/return voters. They care so much about the community. It’s very encouraging.

Describe the energy at polling locations on Election Day.
There are many different vibes throughout the day. In the morning, there is a sense of urgency to get the location operational for voters.

During the “rushes” where many voters show up at one time, there is a very focused atmosphere. Everyone is ready and willing to help voters exercise their right to vote.

During the lulls in voter activity, there is a lot of friendly conversation and joking between PEOs. It keeps the day entertaining.

At the end of the day, there is a great sense of accomplishment – We made it through the election! It’s followed by a surge in energy while everyone works together to get the polls closed up so that we can get home.

Why is being an Election Official important to you?
It is very important to me that I do what I can to make a difference. I do volunteer and donate when I am able, but working the elections is a great way to serve my community in a way that addresses their fundamental right to speak their mind through the voting process.

Did you feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day? Can you describe this?
Yes. The Election Day is a very long but very important day. Sometimes the day throws you a curve ball and sometimes everything runs more smoothly than you could ever imagine – but either way, it’s a great feeling to know that you’ve been a huge part of the voting process for folks who care to speak their mind and rock their vote in an attempt to affect change in our society. The right to vote is so important and I enjoy feeling like I’ve helped others to exercise that right.

What is it like to know you made a difference in our electoral process?
It’s a great feeling. I think that a lot of Americans take their right to vote for granted, but that doesn’t render it any less important. The more that I am involved and the more that I encourage others to be involved, the greater the difference I am making.

Why, in your opinion, should others become Election Officials?
It is a new experience with great opportunity – opportunity to meet others, opportunity to make a difference, opportunity to make money, opportunity for a change of pace. I think everyone should work at least one election. I think many would even return!

To view all of the stories in our poll worker spotlight series, click here.

Spotlight Series: Poll workers express pride, fulfillment for serving on Election Day

Posted on February 23, 2018March 14, 2018 by Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

Did you know that we hire more than 4,000 poll workers for every election?

Perhaps you have come to recognize some of the friendly faces at your polling location. People who come back election after election because of the relationships they’ve made and the pride they have for serving their communities.

While we at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections are fortunate to have a core workforce of returning poll workers, we still have a large quota to meet for each election and are always in need of new faces to help staff polling locations.

Being a poll worker can be a rewarding experience. We have asked some of our most loyal workers to share what helping out with elections means to them. We will be featuring stories from several poll workers over the coming weeks.

Continue reading for our first poll worker spotlight.

Poll Worker Spotlight: John Derwis

How long have you been serving as a poll worker?
Six years.

What brings you back each year?
A sense of giving back to the community.

John Derwis, Six-year poll worker for the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

What are some of your most memorable moments as an Election Official?
I enjoy seeing people who vote because they are concerned about their community and country.

What is your favorite part about being an Election Official?
The camaraderie among the workers whether Democrat, Republican or Independent.

Describe the energy at polling locations on Election Day.
Everyone seems to be working with peak awareness that they are serving our country in a very important way.

Why is being an Election Official important to you?
Rather than just taking up space in this country, I am serving—as I did in the Army through the Vietnam War—with a very important purpose of maintaining a free country.

Did you feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day? Can you describe this?
I felt that I did my small part in protecting our rights as citizens of the United States of America. By the end of the day, I was exhausted, but had a feeling of accomplishment and gratification.

What is it like to know you made a difference in our electoral process?
It is very gratifying to know I made a difference in the electoral process.

Why, in your opinion, should others become Election Officials?
If you have some sense of duty and understanding of how our country operates, I would recommend you working the polls.

Please share any thoughts you have about being an Election Official.
Many thanks to our forefathers who established our system of government.

We thank John for his service as a poll worker and for participating in our spotlight series. If you or someone you know may be interested in becoming a poll worker, learn more by clicking here.

To view all of the stories in our poll worker spotlight series, click here.