Program Description

The College Poll Worker Recruitment Program (CPRP) is an initiative whose main objective is to recruit students and citizens with diverse backgrounds from local colleges to serve as poll workers in county elections. Western Carolina University's Public Policy Institute (PPI) is partnering with Jackson County Board of Elections and Buncombe County Board of Elections in ensuring the success of this program in both the Jackson and Buncombe Counties.          

Poll workers are critical to running smooth elections—they set up and take down polling place materials and equipment, check voters’ registration, and demonstrate how to use voting systems. Nationally, the Elections Assistance Commission determined that the average age of folks engaged as poll workers was 72 years of age in 2008. In Buncombe County this number stands at 60 years of age, whereas Jackson County reported an average age of 68 years of age. It is clear to see that there is a significant need for the involvement of young citizens in elections administration in both counties, and indeed, nationally.

Please click on your respective county (left tab) for prospective poll worker information.