File Photo Devra Smestad hands a ballot to a voter as she and other Ward County election workers staff the early-voting poll in October 2020. Ward County is seeking applicants to fill election worker positions this year

Ward County residents interested in getting an inside look at election operations or being part of the process are invited to apply to become poll workers.

The Ward County Auditor’s Office is seeking county residents to fill the 26 election worker positions that remain open for the June election. County Auditor Marisa Haman said the 56 positions that the county hopes to fill in total represent minimum staffing necessary to give voters an efficient voting experience.

“We can function with less, but people are going to have to wait. It’s not ideal,” she said.

Because the county has gone to vote centers rather than precinct polling, a Ward County resident can work at any of the polling places. If a polling place is out of a resident’s community, a mileage payment is provided.

The vote centers that will be open June 14 are at the Maysa Arena and State Fair Center in Minot, city halls in Sawyer and Ryder, Berthold Senior Center and Kenmare Memorial Hall.

To meet the minimum staffing, the county needs to find three workers each for Kenmare and Sawyer and 19 in the Minot area. One additional worker is needed for early voting June 6-10 and 13 in the Ward County Administration Building.

Haman said she also is looking for residents willing to serve as substitutes if the need arises.

Ward County is offering election worker training on both June 1 and 2 in the Ward County Administration Building. The training runs for 2 to 2-½ hours. Applicants should be comfortable with technology, although the technology is simple to use, Haman said.

To apply for a position, call the auditor’s office at 857-6523 and ask for Nikki. To be eligible, an applicant must be at least 16 years old and cannot be closely related to any candidate on the ballot.

Haman said applicants can indicate whether they also are interested in working the general election on Nov. 8. Individuals interested only in working on Nov. 8 are welcome to call and submit their information as well.

Workers at the early polling location are paid $12 an hour to work from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the six days, plus a couple of hours on election night, and to attend training.

Election workers work from 6 a.m. to about 8 p.m. on election day and are paid a flat rate of $192 for the training and work hours. Inspectors and judges may work longer in bringing results to the county building after the polls close. Judges are party-appointed positions, and residents with an interest can contact their district party chairs, although Haman said the county often ends up filling judge positions because of difficulties experienced by the parties in finding members interested in serving.

Residents from anywhere in the county can vote at any of the vote centers that will be open on election day. The vote centers will have ballots for all primary and city races across the county.

Minot Public Schools will have ballots at both Minot vote centers. Sawyer Public School also will conduct its separate election at the vote center location in Sawyer City Hall as it has done in past primary elections.

Communities without vote centers will have different venues for their school elections. Des Lacs-Burlington voters will be able to vote at either the Des Lacs or Burlington schools. Surrey voters will vote in their school election at Surrey City Hall. Nedrose voters will vote at the school at 5705 15th Ave. SE as they have in the past. The Lewis & Clark School District will have polling locations at North Shore Plaza School and the Berthold School.

Kenmare and South Prairie schools will hold their elections a week earlier, on June 7, at their schools.

North Dakota photo identification is required to vote. Voters who have recently moved and haven’t replaced their IDs can update their addresses through the North Dakota Department of Transportation website to be accurately listed in poll books. Alternatively, a voter can bring a utility bill with current address to the polls to supplement a photo ID.

Polls can be expected to have hand sanitizer and masks available for the public, and voting tables will be wiped down regularly, but no masking requirement will be imposed in the June election, Haman said.

Absentee ballots for the June election become available today. Ward County has application forms for absentee ballots on its website at co.ward.nd.us and in the auditor’s office.