2024 - Winner for Best Practices in Recruiting, Retaining, and Training Poll Workers

Poll workers often struggle with sequencing, leading to possible delays and confusion. To address this, Fairfax County created a Closing Procedures Workshop with two hands-on exercises. First, the Timeline Exercise uses 20 flashcards representing key closing tasks. Teams must sort these into categories based on who can complete them and the overall process, such as any poll worker, the chief poll worker, and the specific sequencing order of tasks. This exercise promotes teamwork and helps workers visualize the closing process, streamlining task delegation. Second, the Tapes Exercise tackles one of the most challenging aspects of closing: matching the DS200 ballot scanner tapes with the correct forms. Using laminated tape samples, poll workers practice identifying and attaching tapes to the appropriate documentation, eliminating guesswork during actual poll closing. By transforming complex procedures into engaging activities, this interactive training helped poll workers better understand their tasks and reduced closing times on Election Night.