Making Voting Popular - Bi-State Outreach Program
Making Voting Popular Program is designed as voluntary partnership between
bi-state election authorities and the corporate/business/organizational community
to meet Election Day human resource needs. The goals include increasing the number of election workers available to election authorities, expanding public knowledge of the voting process, creating opportunities for individuals to commit to and meet civic responsibilities and, through formal and informal communication channels, developing outreach programs which ultimately result in increased voter participation.
Invitation to Kansas City Metropolitan Companies and Organizations
We need your help! On election day, our BI-state election authorities become
the eighth largest employer in the metropolitan area, hiring over 5,900 workers
to conduct an election. With our current 4% unemployment rate, finding personnel
to meet these needs is a difficult task, but with your help we can make a difference.
Making Voting Popular (MVP) is a program developed by election officials who serve our BI-state area and is designed to address this need. It provides an opportunity for companies and organizations to promote civic pride by loaning employees to work in the elections.
You can participate by selecting employees to work as Election Day officials in their home county on Election Day. Each participant will be trained and compensated for the 13-14 hour work day and each participating company or organization will be recognized in our newspapers.
We believe this public/private partnership will improve the voting process, increase public awareness of the need to make voting popular and promote civic responsibility. Of course, it will also be good for your business as it will communicate your commitment to civic responsibility throughout the metropolitan region.
The following data provides additional information on this innovative program. Please take a few moments to review the details, then return the Company/Organization Response Form to the address provided as soon as possible. Should you decide to participate in the program, you will be contacted by a representative from one of the election authorities.
We look forward to welcoming you and your employees as corporate or organization members of the MVP Program!
Sincerely,
Honorary Chairpersons:
Art Brisbane, Publisher of Kansas City Star
Steve Rose, President of Sun Publications
Sponsors of the Program
Questions about the program or requests for further information may be directed
to one of the following participating BI-state election offices: Kansas
- Johnson County Election Commissioner - Brian D. Newby
(913) 782-3441 or brian.newby@jocoelection.org - Wyandotte County Election Commissioner - Bruce Newby
(913) 573-8502
- Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners
Sharon V. Turner, Director and Ray S. James, Director
(816) 842-4820
- Jackson County Board of Election Commissioners
Bob Nichols, Director and Charlene Davis, Director
(816) 521-4600
- Clay County Board of Election Commissioners
Diana Pence, Director and Norma Gorsett, Director
(816) 415-8683
- Platte County Board of Election Commissioners
Ann Shafer, Director and Wendy Flannigan, Director
(816) 858-3344
Election Worker Requirements and Qualifications
There are over 914,000 registered voters in the greater Kansas City Metroplex.
Public elections for these voters are conducted by six election boards, who utilize
929 voting locations. For all major elections, a combined approximate total of
5,900 election day officials are employed by the election authorities to oversee
the voting process.
- Employees will work in the elections.
- Any employee who is 18 years of age or older, is a registered voter, and lives in Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Platte or Wyandotte county is eligible to participate in the program.
- Employees will be assigned to work in the county where they are registered to vote.
- Although the polls close at 7:00 p.m., workers remain on duty to complete the process of closing polls.
- Election worker training will be conducted by each election office. Details will be coordinated with employers.
- Verification of each employee's participation in the program will be sent to his/her employer following the election.
- Must be a resident of Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Platte or Wyandotte County.
- Must be registered to vote in your home county.
- Must indicate your party (Democrat or Republican) affiliation.
- Missouri: Pay range varies in the county in which you work and the position filled. Additional compensation is paid for attending a training session.
- Kansas: Pay will range from $110 to $135, depending on the county in which you work and the position filled. Additional compensation is paid for attending a training session.
- There are several classes of election worker positions used in the voting locations on election day. Your pay will depend on the position assigned.
- Attend training session on procedures to follow at voting locations.
- Open voting location and prepare machines for voting.
- Supervise or manage the registration book to verify eligibility of voters.
- Ensure the proper ballots are supplied to the voters.
- Call the election office throughout the day to check on registrations when necessary.
- Close the polls, ensuring that all voters who are in line at 7:00 p.m. have the opportunity to vote.
- Prepare vote tally sheets.
- Prepare all supplies for pick up by, or delivery to, the election office.
- Note: Working hours begin at 5:15 a.m. in Missouri and 6:00 a.m. in Kansas.
Benefits of the MVP Program
- Will provide corporate/business/organizational institutions the opportunity to meet civic responsibilities.
- Will provide corporate/business/organizational institutions the opportunity to receive recognition, through formal channels, of their commitment to civic responsibilities.
- Will create a pool of skilled workers to facilitate the voting process at the polls.
- Will increase public awareness of the voting process.
- Will create more public trust in the voting process.
- Will result in polling places being run more efficiently.
- Will result in faster retrieval of election data.
Accomplishments
Each year businesses and organizations have participated
in the Making Voting Popular Program. For example: A total of 137 new election
workers were recruited in Johnson County for the General Election in 1998
as a result of the "Making
Voting Popular" program. Of that number, 73 people heard or read about the
program through the news media - TV, radio, or newspaper. The remaining 64
workers were loaned to us from the following area businesses or organizations:
- American Association of University Women (AAUW)
- Athletic Club of Overland Park
- Business and Professional Women's Organization - Olathe (BPW)
- City of Mission
- Deffenbaugh Industries, Inc.
- Excellence in Computing
- Gill Studios, Inc.
- Johnson County Developmental Services Department
- Johnson County Environmental Department
- Johnson County Human Services & Aging Department
- Johnson County Information Technology Services Department
- Johnson County Mental Health Department
- Johnson County Park & Recreation Department
- Johnson County Register of Deeds Department
- Johnson County Treasurers Department
- Johnson County Wastewater Department
- Olathe Clockwinder's Optimist Club
- Pitney Bowes
- Right Management Consultants
- Kansas State Court System
Site last updated: March 30, 2007 12:27 PM
Please send any comments or questions to the developer at election@jocoelection.org or to the Johnson County Election Office 2101 E. Kansas City Road, Olathe, Kansas 66061. Phone: (913) 782-3441. Fax: (913) 791-1753.
Map to the Election Office
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Relay Center: 1-800-766-3777 Nationwide: 711