STL County poll workers might get more pay

By Tom Weber, KWMU

St. Louis, MO – People might soon get paid a little more for working polls in St. Louis County.

Election officials on Tuesday will ask the County Council to raise the reimbursement rates from $85 to $100 a day.

Election director Joe Goeke says the county last raised the rates six years ago. "They're grossly underpaid; they're very overworked, and they're vital to our processing voters and giving them a chance to express the will of the people."

"Poll workers work a very long day," adds County Councilman Skip Mange, who supports the idea. He says it's always hard to find poll workers. "They're there from maybe 6:00 a.m. to after 7:00 p.m., and the compensation has been fairly low for that.

"I think it's something we need to do to compensate these people and to get the good, qualified people to man the polls on behalf of the voters of STL County."

Mange also says the pay increase won't fall entirely on the county because election costs are split among the school boards, towns, and other government bodies that have races on a ballot.

Election judges in St. Louis City currently get $75 for their day's work. Workers get at least $100 in St. Charles County and $105 in Jefferson County.