Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed an executive order Thursday to encourage state employees to volunteer as poll workers in upcoming elections.
The order instructs the Arizona Department of Administration to draft new rules that will allow state employees to take paid leave to volunteer as poll workers in statewide elections. The idea was one of many recommendations made by the Bipartisan Election Task Force Hobbs convened earlier this year.
“Election officials and voters are facing new challenges when it comes to administering elections and participating in our democracy,” Hobbs said in a press release. “I am thrilled to immediately address some of the problems identified by the Bipartisan Elections Task Force to ensure Arizona voters can make their voices heard.”
Former Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell, who co-chaired the task force, said election officials have long faced problems recruiting volunteers to work the polls. Backlash against election workers in recent years has exacerbated that issue, she said.
“Well, I think there has always been a problem of getting people, finding people to work at the polls,” she said. “But I’d say in the last four years it’s become more prevalent that they have issues doing that.”
Purcell said that Maricopa County employees were encouraged to volunteer at the polls when she served as recorder, and she is hopeful the new order will motivate state employees to do the same.
Hobbs also signed two additional executive orders that will allow state buildings to serve as polling places and require state agencies to provide voter registration assistance to the people they serve.