By Bonnie N. Davis

In anticipation of the November elections, the Richmond Electoral Board is recruiting 200 people to increase the number of sworn officers of election at city polls.

“This November, we estimate that we will need 1,220 officers,” said Richmond Voter Registrar Kirk Showalter. “It is all driven by how many people we think will turn out to vote, and the resources necessary to accommodate that turnout so that unduly long lines don’t form.”

To help train election officers, the electoral board will offer 97 classes, or nearly 300 hours of training.

Officers are paid $15 for completing the training.

Election officers are paid $130 to work on Election Day, with assistant chief officers or chief election officers making more.

Election officers typically report to the polls at 5 a.m. on Election Day and must stay until the election results are completed and reported, sometimes as late at 9 or 10 p.m.

Ms. Showalter came under fire by the state Department of Elections for a gap in training and experience by election officers that resulted in problems last November in which some Richmond voters were given the wrong ballots in a state Senate contest.

Ms. Showalter, who insisted again Monday that the problems in November 2015 had nothing to do with training, said new general training sessions have been added to meet state requirements that all election officers attend training when there have been changes to law or policy, regardless of whether they will work the polls.

She also said more pollbook classes have been added because the city is using a new pollbook system.

She estimates that 1,220 election officers will be needed for the November elections, which includes the presidential contest and the races for Richmond mayor, City Council and School Board.

“In normal years we usually have to recruit and train between 100 and 200 new officers over the course of the year.  Some of that is due to turnover and some because not all officers will work every election. 

The first classes will run Aug. 20 through Sept. 19, with most of the classes operating from Sept. 22 through Oct. 31.

Anyone interested in becoming an officer of election may apply online at www.elections.virginia.gov or call (804) 646-5950 to request an application.