Board hears proposal to move poll-worker training online and keep in-person sessions for new recruits

Board staff presented a proposal to transition the Board of Elections’ poll-worker training toward an online or hybrid model while preserving in-person instruction for new recruits and those who require retraining.

A staff presenter said online training for the two-year refresher could reduce the resource burden of staging multiple in-person sessions (previously up to six weeks) while maintaining in-person options for individuals who prefer or require hands-on instruction. The presenter said the Education Services Center has two conference rooms the board has used previously but noted setting up multiweek in-person windows takes substantial staff time.

Commissioners asked procedural questions about where training is held this year and how the hybrid model would be implemented; staff said the new poll-worker file and training materials are in a user-acceptance test environment and not yet in production. No formal vote or policy change was adopted at the meeting; staff offered to follow up with specifics about timing and rollout.

The proposal, if adopted, could affect recruitment and staffing flexibility for the 2026 primary. The board did not provide a schedule for when the hybrid model would take effect or whether additional funding or vendor support would be required.