When Webster County voters head to the polls Nov. 3, plenty of work will already have been done before the first ballot is cast.
And much of that work will be handled by local poll workers.
With less than four weeks until the General Election, Webster County Clerk Stan Whitehurst says his office is preparing for what is expected to be a busy Election Day. That means making sure there are enough election judges at polling locations across the county.
“It takes a lot of hands to pull off a successful election,” Whitehurst said. “Luckily, here in Webster County, we’ve got an outstanding group to work with.”
Poll workers represent the two major political parties. Whitehurst said election judge teams at each polling place are evenly balanced between the parties, helping ensure election rules are followed fairly.
The job is important, but it can also make for a long day.
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Election workers also spend time before and after those hours setting up and taking down equipment.
In recent years, the county has offered some half-day shifts. Whitehurst said that makes the job easier for some workers while also giving more people a chance to take part in the election process.
The number of workers needed depends on expected voter turnout at each polling place.
Whitehurst expects a strong turnout in November. As a result, Webster County will need more election judges than it has for any election since the 2024 presidential election.
The county has traditionally had plenty of people willing to serve, but Whitehurst said more volunteers would still be helpful.
“In the past, we’ve always been fortunate to have more people who want to help than we have spots to fill,” Whitehurst said. “But it would be very helpful to have more willing hands to step forward.”
Anyone interested in becoming a poll worker can contact the Webster County Clerk’s Office at 417-859-VOTE (8683) or elections@webstercountymo.gov.
