Elections Canada looking for local poll workers

By JAMES TUBB on September 4, 2021.

With only 16 days before the federal election, Elections Canada is still looking for staff in the Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner riding.

According to Leanne Nyirfa, regional media adviser for Alberta, each riding hires around 750 workers for an election. These workers would fill roles like frontline poll workers, information officers and deputy returning officers.

Nyirfa says the Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner riding is looking to fill about 300 positions before the Sept. 20 election. She says it is normal for them to still be looking for workers this close to the date, especially with it being a snap election.

“This being a short election period, 36 days, they’ve been working hard from the beginning to get workers but it’s not unusual to still be doing some recruitment work at this point,” Nyirfa said.

Poll workers would work the advance polls Sept. 10-13 and on election day Sept. 20. Pay ranges for poll workers from $17.22 to $23.44 per hour depending on position on top of a paid training session.

The only qualifications to work at the polls is being a Canadian citizen and at least 16 years old. Anyone working for Election Canada is also required to wear a mask at all times when on Election Canada property.

Anyone interested in a position can apply at elections.ca or via the phone at 1-800-463-6868.