SLO County Elections Office Celebrates National Poll Worker Recruitment Day August 12 & Stresses Urgent Need
Author: Erin Clausen
Date: 8/8/2025 8:00 AM
The SLO Clerk-Recorder and Elections team will celebrate National Poll Worker Recruitment Day on Tuesday, August 12. The National Day of Action—which encourages people to get involved in democracy and their community by serving as precinct workers—is especially important this year, as California's governor urges counties to prepare for a statewide special election in less than three months.
The SLO County Elections Office and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) today announced that August 12 will be designated as National Poll Worker Recruitment Day 2025. Launched in 2020, this initiative seeks to address poll worker needs across the country, promote civic participation and volunteerism, and ensure safe, secure, accurate, and accessible elections.
This year’s National Day of Action has special importance locally as the Elections Office moves swiftly to prepare for a potential special election on November 5.
“Election workers play a vital role in helping run our local elections every time,” said County of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano. “While we are already hard at work preparing for the June 2, 2026, Primary Election, we’re now looking at the prospect of a November 4 Special Election. That means we must move extremely quickly to recruit and train community members willing to be on call and staff the polls if the governor does indeed call the special election.”
Cano says that California’s 58 elections offices are likely to find out by August 22 if there will be an election on November 4.
Poll workers are the face of local elections. They are in charge of everything from setting up polling places and greeting voters to verifying voter registrations and issuing ballots. They are also able to help explain how the voting process works by demonstrating the use of voting equipment and detailing voting procedures.
Poll workers further play a vital role in maintaining election accessibility, whether this means translating for a voter who speaks another language or helping those with disabilities. Local election authorities oversee election staff and poll workers, including providing training before Election Day.
“Signing up as a poll worker is an act of service for your community and your country,” said EAC Chairman Donald Palmer. “The EAC launched National Poll Worker Recruitment Day five years ago to address poll worker shortages and encourage new generations to sign up to be poll workers. The EAC is excited to continue our work supporting state and local election offices in their ongoing recruitment efforts.”
National Poll Worker Recruitment Day is a powerful reminder of the importance of civic participation in our elections. By stepping up to serve, poll workers play a pivotal role in protecting the integrity of our democracy and ensuring every voter can cast their ballot.
For more information about National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, visit HelpAmericaVote.gov, and please visit SloVote.com/pollworkers for details about becoming a pollworker here in SLO County.
