UnidosUS and Power the Polls Partner to Recruit More Poll Workers Before Midterm Elections

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UnidosUS will work alongside Power the Polls to engage more Hispanics as potential poll workers, helping to alleviate local poll worker shortages across the country 

With the midterm elections fast approaching in November, UnidosUS is partnering with Power the Polls to help recruit potential poll workers to serve in their local communities and alleviate poll worker shortages. Power the Polls is a first-of-its-kind, nonpartisan initiative for recruiting younger, more diverse poll workers, which launched in 2020 and recruited more than 700,000 potential poll workers ahead of the general election. UnidosUS is the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization.

Across the country, election administrators in a number of counties and states are reporting a need to recruit more poll workers before November, especially people with specific language abilities who can provide language assistance. Since 2020, Power the Polls has tracked over 200 jurisdictions specifically looking to recruit bilingual English-Spanish speakers. In its partnership with Power the Polls, UnidosUS will focus on recruiting more poll workers – particularly those who speak Spanish – all across the country, to ensure that voting is accessible to all eligible voters, including to those who may require assistance in Spanish.   

“People are the lifeblood of democracy. In our elections, from casting a ballot to staffing polling sites, it’s people that make it work. We are proud to partner with Power to the Polls to inform our community about the critical role they can play in ensuring that polling locations are accessible and welcoming to all America’s eligible voters,” said Clarissa Martínez De Castro, UnidosUS Vice President, Latino Vote Initiative. 

“Our democracy relies on the robust and active citizen participation of our fellow Americans. Every election cycle, our local election administrators report poll worker shortages that threaten to disrupt voters’ access to the polls, and unfortunately the 2022 midterm election is expected to be no different,” said Jane Slusser, Program Manager at Power the Polls. “In 2020, we were inspired by the hundreds of thousands of individuals who signed up through Power the Polls to do their civic duty and apply to be a poll worker. By partnering with UnidosUS, we have the opportunity to reach more potential poll workers and help ensure a safe and fair election for all.” 

Poll workers play an essential role in our democracy, helping to ensure every polling place is properly staffed with poll workers and open to voters. Becoming a poll worker is one way for Americans to do their part and engage in civic responsibility. 

To sign up to be a poll worker, please visit www.powerthepolls.org/uus.