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Ohio seeks motivated poll workers for Nov. election

July 4, 1776, America declared its independence from the British monarchy. Nov. 3, 2020, voters across Ohio and the nation will participate in the very self-governing our founders envisioned 244 years ago.

That day a bold and courageous idea about justice, equality and human freedom became a nation — the first nation founded on an idea. We know that for much of our 244 years of history, we have failed to live up to those lofty ideals. We know that for more than half of our history women and people of color were excluded from the franchise and even systematically subjugated by the laws enacted by those in power.

As with any human endeavor, this nation has always been imperfect, but unlike most others we are also empowered with ways to make it better — and each American generation since the founding has done just that. The preamble to the U.S. Constitution speaks of creating a more perfect union and that’s exactly what we as Americans do.

That work of making America more perfect continues, and now it’s our job.

The bare minimum is to take your citizenship seriously and vote — it’s never been easier, and in Ohio you will have the same three choices you’ve had for years. In the Buckeye State, we’re blessed to have lots of options so regardless of lifestyle, preferences or even pandemic-related concerns, there is a style of voting for you. For this fall’s general election you can choose: four weeks of in-person early voting including evening and weekend hours, four weeks of convenient absentee voting from the safety and convenience of home or in-person election day voting at a convenient location close to where you live. Of course you have to be registered, and you can do that in just minutes at VoteOhio.gov. You can also go to VoteOhio.gov to check your address and ensure your registration is current and accurate. Consider being a voter registration evangelist and passing this along to a young Ohioan you know also!

These four months leading up to the Nov. 3 election are a time for every Ohioan to consider ways they can serve and help strengthen our democratic republic. One way is to answer the call to be a poll worker. Elections are run locally at each of Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections where four board members — two Republicans and two Democrats — rely on hundreds, if not thousands, of poll workers on election day. On average it takes over 35,000 poll workers across the state to open the polls by 6:30 a.m. and serve voters at the polling location until 7:30 p.m.

Now with a pandemic disproportionately affecting elderly — and considering the majority of poll workers are seniors — this call to duty takes on a new urgency. If you want to defend democracy and serve our state and nation, go to VoteOhio.gov/Defend Democracy and sign up to be a poll worker.

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