Facebook announces poll worker recruitment drive

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the social media giant will host a poll worker recruitment drive this weekend in an effort to staff U.S. precincts ahead of the November general election.

A message linking to poll worker sign-ups will automatically populate on Facebook feeds for all users in the U.S. over the age of 18. State election authorities have also been given free advertising credits to recruit poll workers on social media platforms.

In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg claimed that nearly half a million poll workers are needed nationwide and those positions have been harder to fill because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We’re less than two months away from the US elections, and we are seeing a massive shortage of poll workers to staff voting stations," Zuckerberg wrote. "Shortages can lead to hours-long waits at the polls, which makes it harder for people to participate in the democratic process."

Minnesota election officials worried about massive shortage of poll workers due to COVID-19

According to Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, about 30,000 election judges will be needed to staff roughly 3,000 polling places statewide.

Election judges are paid for their work. To qualify in Minnesota, you must be 16 or older, be able to speak English and complete a two-hour training course, which can be done online.

Under Minnesota law, employers are required to give you time off to serve as a poll worker without a reduction in pay, as long as you:

• Notify your employer in writing at least 20 days in advance of Election Day.
• Attach a copy of your schedule and pay rate form to your written notice. The schedule and pay rate will be provided by the jurisdiction that hires you as an election judge.