As the 2022 election season approaches, some Michigan clerks say they’re scrambling to find enough election workers.
Michigan Congressman Andy Levin hopes increasing their pay might help.
That’s why Levin, a Democrat, has introduced the Enhanced Pay for Election Workers Act in the U.S. House.
It would provide states with grants to boost pay for poll workers.
Levin says those workers play a key role in the infrastructure of democracy. “Election workers must be compensated adequately for their services and sacrifice. And until that happens, we'll have trouble retaining and attracting enough workers to run our elections properly,” he says.
Levin says the COVID-19 pandemic and increased threats against election workers have also made it more difficult for clerks to find staff.