Election Officials Prepare for Upcoming Elections Amid Challenges
While many voters associate the start of the election season with early voting or receiving mail ballots, for election officials, preparations begin much earlier. These officials spend months securing supplies, testing voting equipment, and enhancing safeguards to ensure secure and accessible elections for all eligible voters.
Since the 2020 elections, election workers have faced increased threats and intimidation, leading to significant turnover and the loss of valuable expertise. The Brennan Center’s recent survey revealed that over one-third of election officials have encountered threats or harassment.
Ahead of this year’s local and state elections, Tonya Wichman, the elections director in Defiance County, Ohio, shared insights into her role and election preparations. Defiance County, with a population of nearly 40,000, began early in-person voting on October 7 for school board and municipal races, as well as local ballot measures, as per the Ohio voting schedule.
Roles and Responsibilities
In an interview, Wichman explained her role in Defiance County’s elections. “We’re a smaller county so we only have two full-time people on staff that work alongside part-time clerks,” she noted. Despite the small team size, the tasks are numerous, including voter registration, ballot programming, setting up polling locations, and adhering to security procedures.
Wichman emphasized the year-round nature of election preparation, stating, “Even right now, we’re working on next year’s May primary — and we started back in July.”
Preparation for Elections
Wichman detailed the extensive preparations that go into each election cycle. “We started for this year’s elections in December of last year,” she said, describing the comprehensive testing and ballot programming conducted for the primary. The general election necessitates printing various types of ballots and coordinating the logistics for polling site operations.
Training poll workers is another critical component, ensuring they are ready to handle any questions or changes since their last service.
Community Involvement
Maintaining community engagement is important to Wichman. To keep the public informed, her team participated in local events such as counting votes for a local Rib Fest to demonstrate transparency and community presence.
Challenges Faced
Wichman recounted her personal challenges, including harassment. “In 2022, I was just about as broken as I could be in this job,” she shared. A pivotal moment came when her mother encouraged her to continue, highlighting the importance of her dedication to fair elections.
Her experience with election observation in Sierra Leone reinforced her commitment. “If I don’t fight for this to be done correctly, what if they put the wrong person in?” she reflected.
Message to Voters
Wichman has a clear message to voters: “Our whole team here puts everything we have into a job that expects perfection.” She urges voters to engage with their local election boards if they have concerns, emphasizing the importance of transparency and understanding in the electoral process.
Additionally, she encourages voters to appreciate the work of poll workers, who play a crucial role in election operations. “We wouldn’t have elections without them,” Wichman emphasized.
