The Human Dimension of Elections: How Poll Workers Shape Public Confidence in Elections
Working Paper No.: 90Date Published: 2009-09-01
Author(s):
Thad E. Hall, University of Utah
J. Quin Monson, Brigham Young University
Kelly D. Patterson, Brigham Young University
Abstract:
Voting technologies received considerable scrutiny after the 2000 election. However, the voter–poll worker interaction
is also of critical importance. Poll workers exercise discretion and implement policies in ways that directly affect
the voting experience. The authors examine the relationship between voters’ perceptions of the poll worker job performance
and measures of voter confidence. In an ordered logit model, the perception of poll workers is a significant
predictor of voter confidence even in the presence of numerous controls. The results suggest that overlooking the
recruitment and training of competent poll workers can have a detrimental effect on voter confidence.