The Fresno County elections office needs to hire about 600 temporary workers.

These jobs aren’t just for election day, either. Some will last as long as two months.

How does $13-$15 an hour sound? So far, applications for the positions are not coming in quickly. That’s why a big recruiting outreach is underway.

Officials really want to impress upon applicants just how safe the county’s voting sites will be despite the COVID-19 pandemic. All workers will be required to wear a mask. Social distancing will be enforced. Voters that show up not wearing a mask will be given one.

“Safety for the voters and the election workers are of paramount importance to us,” said Brandi Orth, the county clerk and registrar of voters.

Recruitment Campaign

Orth is hopeful of hiring all the people she needs.

“It’s a great learning experience. It’s an opportunity that you should avail yourself of,” says Orth. “We will train you. You will be prepared. And it’s just amazing to see how the process works and helping voters, helping your fellow citizen cast their ballot. It’s really uplifting.”

Orth’s team is partnering with organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to find workers. Two examples: the Fresno Grizzlies and the Big Fresno Fair. She is also reaching out to workers who have assisted with past elections. Several hundred have confirmed they’re coming back, Orth said.

A social media campaign also began last week, and anyone driving along Highway 41 in central Fresno is likely to see the job advertisement on the Manchester Center digital billboard.

Two Job Types Available

Here are typical duties for elections worker positions paying $13 an hour.

• Process voter registration and statewide petitions, including filing affidavits of registration.
• Issues ballots to eligible voters at various Vote Center locations.
• Processes vote by mail material, issue ballots, and collate ballot material.
• Prepare, assemble, and distribute publications, notices, sample ballots, and other election materials.
• Typing, data entry, checking documents, and operation of extraction machines.
• Assist the public with basic questions and general information related to voting and registration.
• May deliver or retrieve ballot boxes, Vote Center supplies, and other election materials.
• May assist with translations.
• May provide routine sanitizing of voter equipment and other surfaces.

The other position, elections outreach coordinator, pays $15.19 an hour. Typical duties include:

• Planning, organizing, and coordinating specific election activities.
• More complex administrative and clerical duties, including the compilation of data and reports.
• Troubleshooting problems with voting equipment and assisting with the preparation of supplies.
• Preparing, assembling, and distributing publications, notices, sample ballots, and other election materials. May also include presenting voter outreach and education materials at community meetings or workshops.
• Provide the public with answers and information related to voting, registration, and procedures.
• May translate voting information in oral or written form.
• May train or assist with the training of elections workers and precinct officers.
• May assign, review, and coordinate the work of extra-help employees and volunteers.
• May provide routine sanitizing of voter equipment and other surfaces.

Apply for either of these positions through the Fresno County jobs site.

Bilingual Skills Needed

Workers with second language skills are also needed.

The elections department is seeking people who speak fluent Spanish, Hmong, Punjabi, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Khmer, Lao, and Tagalog.

Student Election Workers

Orth is also looking for paid student workers. Applicants must be 16 to 18 years old, have at least a 2.5 GPA, a valid driver’s license (or current passport) and social security card.

Students are only eligible to apply for the election worker position and can earn extra credit through some school courses.

Qualifications

All election workers and coordinators must meet these qualifications:

• Must be available to work Oct. 31-Nov. 3, and work full shifts (no partial days or hours), as well as training days.
• A valid driver’s license or government-issued ID card is required (student ID is not sufficient). Passports are also an acceptable form of ID.
• Social security card (original, no copies)
• Masks are required.