ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Board of Elections is in need of poll workers for the coming Nov. 2 election, and it is putting out word of the financial compensations for the job.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Director Aaron Moore said there were likely sufficient poll workers to meet the minimum need for staffing but that it is important to have additional and reserve workers.

“We have workers, but we just want extra. We need more,” he said. “In case call-offs happen, we have someone who can step in and help.”

Board Chairman Michael Shaheen suggested informing the public of the poll workers’ pay.

Moore said precinct election officials will receive $133 for working Election Day and $125 for attending training for a total of $258 plus mileage.

Voting location managers receive $133 salary for the day, $125 for attending training, and $10 for picking up and returning supplies, for a total of $268.

Alternates will receive $125 for attending training if they are not called out to work. If they are called out to work and do not respond, they will receive $25.

Rovers will receive $200 plus mileage for working and attending training.

“Usually we try not to tell people the amount of money, but the board wanted to this time,” Moore said.

He added that the shortage is further complicated by the need to have one Republican and one Democrat at each polling location.

“We are getting a lot of workers, but we need partied workers,” he said. “It’s how you vote here in our office. How you vote in the primary election is what your party is, so if you don’t vote within the last two years, your party affiliation falls off. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a big primary this time, and with the general election, having COVID, I feel some people might not have had a chance to come out or forgot to return their absentees, and then sometimes people just choose not to vote in the primaries and wait ’til the general.”

Moore said a minimum total of 280 poll workers are needed, 140 from either party. Moore said workers from both parties are in demand.

Board member Frankie Carnes suggested looking at alternates’ past party affiliations.

In other matters, the board approved ballots at 10 percent more than registered voters. Moore said this is normal.

“We always go over the voter registration total so that we have more ballots than needed just in case of any emergencies,” he said.

Absentee, in-office and mail-out voting will begin Oct. 5.

Moore also informed the board there would be plenty of protective gear and sanitization equipment available for polling locations, with an abundance left over from the general election last November.

“It’s kind of on-par for what an odd year is, but an odd year is definitely a little lower than the even years,” he said.

On Nov. 15 or Nov. 17, the board will process provisional ballots. On Nov. 22, the board will count the provisional votes and late absentee votes.

“We’ll know if there’s any automatic recounts,” Moore said.

For more information about being a poll worker, call the board office at 740-526-0188.

The next board meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Oct. 19 at the board office at 52180 National Road, St. Clairsville.