Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers plans to use the National Guard to help fill the poll worker shortage for next Tuesday’s election.
But more than 100 cities, villages, and towns are still listed as having a “critical” need, as COVID-19 has left thousands of poll workers unwilling to show up.
“Right now, I am short a bare minimum of two poll workers,” said Joan Waino, the Town Clerk of Winchester in Vilas County. “I’ve been able to wrangle in two from town.”
The state is pleading for volunteers to help with the shortage.
“Not opening [the polls] is not an option,” said Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesman Reid Magney. “We’re doing everything we can to find poll workers for clerks.”
The Elections Commission reports 60 percent of municipalities are short poll workers. The majority of normal poll workers are ago 60 or above, a group at higher risk for getting sick.
Magney said clerks are looking for anyone willing to help.
“College students, high school students can do it,” he said. “I realize that some teachers are actually working, doing online lessons and doing things like that, but depending upon a teacher’s situation, if a teacher is available, he or she would be perfect.
If you can volunteer next Tuesday, call your municipal or county clerk’s office.
Winchester Town Clerk Joan Waino can be reached at 715-543-2110.
