Jasper County elections office reports uptick in youth registrations, seeks more poll workers

Janine, director of the Jasper County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, told the board the office held voter-registration drives at local high schools and recruited new poll workers ahead of upcoming elections.

"We were able to register seven students and pick up four poll workers there as well," Janine said, recounting the Richland High School visit; she added the office registered eight students at Pottyville High School and that roughly 15 of the 16- and 17-year-olds expressed interest in working the elections. "We're gonna try to utilize them," she said, emphasizing a need for additional help in Hardinville precinct areas.

The director listed further outreach plans, including an April 27 registration effort at Legacy Academy and follow-up with community contacts who had not returned calls. Janine said the office had left application packets with local organizations and would retrieve completed forms or accept them at the elections office.

On overall rolls, Janine reported a total of 25,390 registered voters, an increase of 119 since the previous report. The board discussed mapping and addressing issues that complicated registration for new developments; staff said some new addresses are not yet in the county E-911/GIS systems and that the office will send letters to applicants whose addresses cannot yet be validated.

Board members asked about poll-worker conditions and pay; Janine said training sessions aim to last about three to three-and-a-half hours and that poll workers would be able to take meal breaks during shifts. She also said the office is coordinating with Printelec to schedule an equipment demonstration likely to occur near the May meeting.

The board accepted the director report and discussed targeted training for neighborhoods (Sun City, Margaritaville, Hillhead Lakes) to facilitate local recruitment.