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Hundreds of poll workers still needed in Marion County before election day

Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell says they still need about 800 poll workers to sign up in Marion County before election day.

INDIANAPOLIS — Early voting has started in Indiana.

In Marion County, more than 2,000 people have already cast their ballots in the past two days.

They've all done that at the city-county building in downtown Indianapolis.

Right now, it's the only place you can vote early in Marion County, but eight more sites will open later this month.

Those sites can't operate without people willing to work at the polls.

Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell says they still need about 800 poll workers to sign up in Marion County before Election Day.

"We are not in a crisis mode right now. We are still, we have a team that all they do, all day long is reach out to people to work the polls or answer those who have reached out to us and said I want to work the polls," Sweeney Bell explained.

Some of the people who sign up to work aren't new to the job.

81-year-old Amy Alyea has been working at polls in Marion County for more than 40 years.

"Working the polls, it's community. It's customer service," Alyea explained, saying her favorite voters who come through the door are the ones casting a ballot for the first time.

"This is what it's about," said Alyea.

"Get involved because if you don't get involved, you can't speak. If you don't vote, don't complain," she added.

"I enjoy people. I have wonderful conversations with people as they come through doing their civic duty," said another long-time Marion County poll worker, Carina McDowell.

"The job is to make sure that everybody that walks through this door that can legally vote, does so," McDowell said.

That includes, checking in voters, making sure they have the right ballot, and even answering questions about how to work the voting machines.

Those positions include poll inspectors, clerks and judges. These are all positions that involve training before someone can do them. Whenever possible, each site includes workers from both political parties. To work at a polling location, you have to live in the county where the poll is located and be a registered voter.

If someone's at least 16 years old and has permission from a parent and their school, they can also be a poll worker even though they aren't a registered voter yet.

"Our poll workers are, I call them our angels of democracy," Sweeney Bell said, explaining it takes about 3,000 or so angels to make sure people are able to vote in Marion County without a hitch.

She says long-time poll workers, like McDowell and Alyea help make that possible.

"They're the experts. They know what to expect," said Sweeney Bell.

"I'll be here every day, until November 6th," said Alyea and she plans to keep coming back for every election.

"As long as the good Lord allows me to get up every day and I can walk on two feet. I will do it," Alyea said.

Click here to sign up to be a poll worker in Marion County.

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