Power the Polls was launched in June 2020 by a coalition of businesses and nonprofits seeking to recruit a new wave of poll workers ahead of the 2020 election. America was in the midst of a nationwide poll worker shortage, and the consequences had already been felt in primary elections with reduced polling locations, long lines, and voters waiting to cast their ballot for several hours. In the era of uncertainty caused by the coronavirus, fewer poll workers were signing up for the job. We’re already seeing the need for large scale poll worker recruitment in 2022. Poll worker shortages have already affected voters this year, as polling places in some states across the country have closed due to shortages during primary elections.
