Dozens of local volunteers applied to be poll workers at a Town Hall Election Job Fair on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 19.

“Wareham people are very interested in the electoral process,” said Town Clerk Michele Bissonnette. “I find that Wareham is one of those communities where everyone pitches in when you need them, and for that we’re very fortunate.”

In the lead-up to November’s midterm elections, communities across the country have reported a shortage of poll workers due to the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and threats of political violence. Wareham is not facing a shortage, Bissonnette said, but the town is looking for “backup” poll workers to fill the post-Covid void.

“Most of these people are retired people that just want to help their community,” she said.

One of those people is Kathleen Hunt, who saw ads for the Election Job Fair and “just thought it would be something different to do” now that she is retired. 

“[I wanted to] help out the town,” Hunt said, “because I know it’s hard sometimes to get workers.”

Recent retirees Steve and Paula Mueller were motivated by recent reports of threats and labor shortages affecting poll workers. 

“We’re looking for an opportunity to give back to the community,” Paula said. “There’s a history of poll workers getting harassed, and there’s lots of places that have a shortage.”

False claims that the 2020 election was stolen by widespread fraud have affected the way election workers do their jobs. In a March 2022 survey by the Brennan Center for Justice, one in six local election officials reported receiving threats. One in five said that they will likely quit their jobs before the 2024 presidential election. 

“Elections are important,” Steve said. “We want to do what we can to make sure everyone has the right to vote.”

“I’m just here to help out,” said Sandy Cormier. “I just wanted to make sure that we have enough people.”

Cormier is a member of Blue Crew 508, a Wareham-based liberal advocacy group known for public sign-holding demonstrations. In the coming weekends, however, she plans to hold a sign with a nonpartisan message: “Vote.”

“I think it’s very important that people start paying attention to politics,” she said.