Boston election department recruiting poll workers for upcoming elections

Boston election department recruiting poll workers for upcoming elections

The Boston Election Department is recruiting poll workers for the important work of staffing the City’s 254 precincts for all upcoming Elections in 2013.

Special Elections for the U.S. Senate, the First Suffolk Senatorial District and the Eighth Suffolk Representative District will take place this spring, and have placed a burden on the existing pool of poll workers, many of whom take days off from their regular jobs to serve.

The dates for the Special Elections are April 30, May 28 and June 25.

In order to guide voters through the electoral process and to ensure that all the polling locations are adequately staffed, the Election Department requires a full complement of poll workers. There is also a critical need for bilingual individuals to serve in all the poll worker roles: wardens, clerks, and inspectors. Bilingual speakers of Spanish, Cape Verdean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Russian, Portuguese and Somali are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: assist with preparing the voting location for opening; hang signs in accordance with legal requirements; count ballots; check in voters; maintain a record of the Election Day’s activities; provide assistance to voters with disabilities; assist in removing signage; pack up election materials; and help check counts at the end of the day.

There are stipends ranging from $135-$175 for poll workers. While it is encouraged that all poll workers be available from 6 a.m. to the closing of the polls at 9 p.m., those workers serving as inspectors or interpreters may opt for a half-day shift: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. (prorated pay rate of $9/hour). All first -time Poll Workers must attend a mandatory 2-hour training session prior to the elections.

Poll workers must be registered voters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Preference will be given to those applicants who have a strong voter history. All poll workers must exhibit a professional and helpful demeanor, and must be respectful and mindful of the ethnic and cultural diversity of Boston’s voters.

For an application or more information, please contact 617-635-4491 or email: election@cityofboston.gov. Applications can also be printed out from: www.cityofboston.gov/elections. Submitting an application does not guarantee an assignment.

Senior whole health offers free exercise classes in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain

Senior Whole Health (SWH), a health plan for seniors who have both Medicare and MassHealth, will offer free exercise classes to residents of Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. Gladys Grullon, a well-known aerobics instructor and performer from “Seniors in Action,” will teach the classes in both English and Spanish.

Classes will be held every Thursday to June 6 between 10 and 11 a.m. at the Boston Housing Authority’s Armory Apartments in Roxbury.
“Healthy living and exercise is a life-long endeavor,” said Jamaica Plain City Councilor Matt O’Malley. “It’s a terrific initiative that will benefit scores of residents.”

SWH Chairman and CEO Wayne Lowell said that regular exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and helps seniors maintain their “quality of life and keep them living independently and at home.”

The classes will include instruction on how to exercise properly and incorporate exercise into participants’ daily routines.

“Exercise classes promote healthy living, help people prevent and deal with chronic diseases, and bring neighbors together to form strong social networks,” said Grullon.

“They’re also a great way to get ready for walking and other outdoor activities available in the spring and summer.”