Discuss and consider approving a pay increase for election poll workers to go into effect for the Joint General and Special Elections being conducted in May 2022.

Commissioners’ Court is the authority that sets poll worker pay rates according to Section 32.093 of the Texas Election Code.  The Court recently approved an hourly pay increase for Primary Election Early Voting workers on February 1, 2022. But for non-primary elections, the Court last approved an hourly pay increase for election judges and clerks in 2013. Non-Primary Election Day Presiding Judges and Early Voting Supervisors are currently compensated at a rate of $12 per hour. Non-Primary Election Day Clerk and Early Voting Clerks are currently compensated at a rate of $10 per hour.

While there is an ever-present need to recruit competent, willing & reliable poll workers, many factors have made this process even more challenging. Poll workers are being increasingly asked to learn more intensive election security procedures. They have also been required to subject themselves to increased exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic and due to recently-passed legislation face the threat of increased criminal penalties for certain activities in the polling place. While these penalties apply to willful violations, poll workers have been vocal about their hesitancy to work, as honest mistakes may be construed otherwise. New laws pertaining to access by poll watchers also place an additional burden on poll workers to maintain order in the polling place.

In addition to the above stated factors, Williamson County has seen rapid growth and a stark increase in cost of living. Poll workers have expressed hesitancy to continue working for the currently offered compensation when positions with significantly higher rates of pay are so readily available. Party chairs and representatives have also expressed difficulties in recruiting new workers due in part to low compensation.

We have conducted a poll worker pay survey of similarly sized counties, and are proposing to raise pay rates to the following:

$17/hr – Election Day Presiding Judges and Early Voting Supervisors
$15/hr – Election Day and Early Voting Clerks

These rates also affect the wages paid at the Central Accumulation Station on election night, according to Sections 127.0005(d) and 127.006(d). As set forth in the Texas Election Code, the Central Accumulation Station presiding judge is entitled to a minimum of five hours’ pay regardless of the amount of time worked. And further, a clerk who serves for the entire time the Central Accumulation Station is in operation, is entitled to a minimum compensation of three hours’ pay regardless of the amount of time worked.