Opinion: Strengthening ranks of poll workers helps our democracy
Sloan Richardson | Atlanta-Journal Constitution | September 15, 2022

Poll workers are the mechanics of democracy. They do the unglamorous but necessary work of keeping our election machinery running so Americans can be confident our votes will be counted and our voices heard. And poll workers have never been more important — or under more pressure — than right now. That’s why companies that care about our democracy should step up and encourage employees to serve as poll workers this November.
As The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported, there is an alarming shortage of poll workers as we head into the midterm election because of COVID-related concerns, the retirement of older workers, and the very real fear of harassment and abuse – like the shameful treatment Fulton County poll workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss faced.
Combined with recent state laws designed to make it harder to vote, the poll worker shortage should worry every Georgian and every company operating here. So much is at stake this November, from control of the statehouse to control of Congress and the future of our planet itself. That’s why Patagonia is giving employees time off to train and serve as poll workers. We did it here in Atlanta and nationwide in 2020, and we’re doing it again this year. The ACLU of Georgia has a great program to recruit poll workers locally. For people outside Georgia, Power the Polls has simplified the process of signing up online.