NEWBERRY COUNTY — With the presidential primaries coming up in a few weeks, the Newberry County Registration and Election Commission poll managers are getting ready to work.
The clerks are in charge during an election — they pick up equipment, return it, open and close the polls, and usually have the most experience.
One clerk in Newberry County is Betsy Homesley, who has been working elections for the past 13 years in Peak. She took over as clerk about five years ago.
“I have always been interested. My great uncles took me when I was a child. They would take me to Newberry to count the ballots when they were paper ballots,” she said. “My aunt took it over when they gave it up. A member of our family has always done this. When my aunt asked me to join, I did not give it a second thought.”
Homesley, 55, said she is already deciding which of her children will help her in the future. She also has a cousin who is certified to work, and she is going to try and get him to help as well.
Homesley said working during the elections is a way to give back to the community, and see people she has not seen since the last election.
“We had a little old lady who always came out. Someone had to drive her and she would always need help, and insist on it being me. She wanted to come in and she would talk history, the Civil War and Republicans and Democrats,” she said.
According to Homesley, Peak has an average of 100 to 106 registered voters. She added that they usually have a pretty good turnout.
“We have higher percentages because so many of our people are going to come out,” she said.
Poll managers in South Carolina are paid $60 per day by the state for a total of $120 — $60 for election day plus $60 for training — and clerks receive an additional day’s pay of $60 a day for a total of $180, said Shanna Proctor, director of Newberry County Registration and Election Commission.
“Poll managers are paid to attend a training session,” she said. “Once poll workers are assigned our office mails a letter with the dates and times of classes. They only have to attend one.”
One average, about 100 people work during elections in Newberry County, according to Proctor.
To be a certified poll worker, you must be a registered voter in the county or neighboring county (Saluda, Lexington, Richland, Fairfield, Union, Laurens and Greenwood) or be 16 or 17 years old. You must also attend a Poll Manager Training Class before each election and take the online certification class.
You must also work the entire day, from around 6:30 a.m. until about 7:30 p.m.
A poll manager’s election day duties include processing of voters, ballot distribution, activation of the voting system, compliance with election laws and procedures and general assistance to voters.
Proctor said that there are also benefits to working during the elections.
“You learn about how the voting system works in South Carolina as well as get an inside view into the amount of work that goes into putting on an election. Poll workers will see a large number of people that they normally do not see,” she said.
Anyone interested will need to complete a poll manager’s application. By submitting an application, your name will be added to the Newberry County Registration and Election Commission database of citizens interested in serving as a poll manager.
You will then receive a letter or email telling you how to take the online certification class.
“When it is time to assign workers, you will be contacted about working. You will then receive papers required for payroll in the mail,” Proctor said. “Commissioners are calling people already certified or those who have sent in an application now. Classes will be in the beginning of February. People can always do an application and if they cannot work this election just say so and commissioners will check back for the next election.”
If interested in being a poll manager, contact the Newberry County Registration and Election Commission at 803-321-2121.