Alabama poll workers are getting a pay raise

Alabama poll workers are getting a pay raise.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed House Bill 435 ensuring raises for election inspectors and clerks. Under current law, election inspectors and clerks receive $50 per election. The state supplements that amount to bring the total compensation for inspectors to $100 and $75 for clerks. Under the new bill, inspectors and clerks will receive a $50 boost, bringing total compensation to $150 for inspectors and $125 for clerks.

Counties can provide additional subsidies as well.

The bill was sponsored by State Rep. James Lomax, R-Huntsville, who said the additional funds are designed to “recruit and retain” poll workers.

“Poll workers are an important part of our election process and are generally the unsung heroes on election day,” Lomax told AL.com. “They work long hours every election helping people navigate the voting process while making sure the system runs efficiently and fairly. There has been a struggle nationwide for communities to attract new poll workers, and this increased stipend should help us recruit and retain dedicated poll workers. “

The raise applies only to statewide elections when the state reimburses the county for expenses and not in the case of special county or non-statewide elections.