days left to the 2024 election! Your ballot is your power, and when we show up, equality wins. Click here to visit our 2024 Voting Center!
by Laurel Powell •
With the midterm elections fast approaching in November, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) – the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization – is partnering with Power the Polls to help recruit potential poll workers from LGBTQ+ communities across the country to serve in the midterm election, alleviate poll worker shortages, and ensure representation at the polls. Power the Polls is a first-of-its-kind, nonpartisan initiative for recruiting the next generation of poll workers. The initiative first launched in 2020 and has recruited more than 125,000 potential poll workers since relaunching in May 2022.
Across the country, election administrators in a number of counties and states are reporting a need to recruit more poll workers before November who will help ensure a fair, free, accessible election. The partnership between HRC and Power the Polls will aim to ensure a safe and welcoming voting experience for all voters, especially those from LGBTQ+ communities, by recruiting potential poll workers from LGBTQ+ communities to expand representation of LGBTQ+ people at the polls.
In 2020, Power the Polls recruited over 700,000 potential poll workers ahead of the general election. The Human Rights Campaign and Power the Polls' work together in 2020 helped to address the nationwide shortage of poll workers, recruit LGBTQ+ poll workers, and ensure a safe and fair election for all, combatting discrimination and harassment toward LGBTQ+ people while exercising their constitutional right to vote. According to the National Election Pool exit poll by Edison Research, LGBTQ voters represented 7% of the 2020 electorate, while representing 4.5% of the adult population.
Poll workers play an essential role in our democracy, helping to ensure every polling place is properly staffed with poll workers, open to voters, and free from harassment or discrimination. Becoming a poll worker is one way for everyday people to give back to their communities, support their neighbors, and ensure every voter is treated as a full and equal citizen in our democracy.
To sign up to be a poll worker, please visit https://www.powerthepolls.org/hrc.
To make a general inquiry, please visit our contact page. Members of the media can reach our press office at: (202) 572-8968 or email press@hrc.org.
Image: