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Democracy needs volunteers — and right now, Portage County needs yours.

With Ohio's May 5 election approaching, the Portage County Board of Elections is facing a significant shortfall of poll workers, and a Kent State emerita professor is calling on the university community to step up and fill the gap.

Barb Hipsman Springer, emerita professor of journalism and co-convenor of the Kent State Votes coalition, has spent years working the polls herself — and she's sounding the alarm that this year is different.

“The Portage County Board of Elections can already tell that they are significantly understaffed for these paid posts that are crucial to democracy,” Springer said. “As the pool of workers ages, some of us drop out as we become less likely to work the long hours.”

The concern locally mirrors a national trend. According to a 2022 Election Assistance Commission report to Congress, a majority of election officials have reported difficulty recruiting enough poll workers in every major election since 2018. Research shows the typical poll worker has a median age of 64 — a volunteer base that Springer says is beginning to thin.

University Employees and Students Can Serve

Springer, who often supports local efforts to register students and others to vote, believes those who can give their time at the polls will have a meaningful experience.

She points to the university's poll worker policy that many employees may not know exists: Ohio law allows Kent State employees to request leave to serve as precinct election workers on Election Day — a provision also reflected in Kent State's administrative rules.

“I wonder how many KSU employees could help?” Springer said.

The opportunity isn’t limited to employees. Any Portage County resident who is at least 17 years old, a U.S. citizen and registered to vote is eligible to serve. That makes a significant portion of the Kent State student population potential candidates for the role.

Poll workers serve a long but meaningful day — roughly 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. — helping ensure voters can enter and exit smoothly and that the election runs without disruption. The positions are paid, and a four-hour paid training is provided in advance.

Those interested in serving as a poll worker for the May 5 election can contact:

• Tiffany Welling: call or text 330-414-1745
• Portage County Board of Elections: 330-297-3511 or 330-297-3514

“You won’t get rich at this,” Springer said, “but it certainly helps democracy work.”