The Marshall County Council members considered an additional appropriation request to pay absentee workers during the June Primary Election.
Clerk Deb VanDeMark explained that four more people helped open mail-in absentee ballots on Election Day due to an increase in mail-in ballots in this election. The state encouraged mail-in absentee ballots if voters did not want to be physically present at a polling site due to COVID-19 concerns.
VanDeMark commented that she’s never had to request extra money as the Election Board never had to employ extra help on Election Day.
VanDeMark said the hourly wage requested would be $12.85. Some workers put in 8 hours that day and others worked 14.5 hours for a total 43 hours. The amount requested was $560.
The council members approved the request to pay the workers. In order to pay the workers sooner than an additional appropriation could be finalized, the funds will be transferred within the proper line items and the council will take action on the additional appropriation after it is properly advertised.
