From left, Los Alamos County Clerk Naomi Maestas stands with poll workers and County Clerk’s Office Elections Manager Victoria Martinez, 2nd from right, and Councilor Keith Lepsch, right, during Tuesday’s council meeting. County Council recognized the poll workers’ efforts at the beginning of the meeting. Courtesy/LAC

Staff Report

Los Alamos County Council recognized and commended the contributions of election officials during its regular meeting Jan. 30.

Councilor Keith Lepsch read the recognition.

Los Alamos County Clerk Naomi Maestas congratulated local poll workers and their efforts during each election cycle.

She reported studies show that in past presidential elections, approximately 117,000 polling places across the nation were serviced by more than 918,000 poll workers.

“We are very fortunate in our County … that we truly do have the best poll workers in the world,” Maestas said. “We are very, very fortunate here.”

She added that the demands on what poll workers are supposed to do year to year increase. They take more County-wide training and perform additional responsibilities such as same-day voter registration and ballot pickup. Plus, they adhere to rigorous checks and balances. They do all of this, Maestas said, “without skipping beat … they are truly invaluable.”

Maestas added that poll workers are the backbone of democracy.

The Clerk’s Office Election Manager Victoria Martinez further commended the poll workers, saying, “I am very grateful for all the poll workers in Los Alamos County. They are what make my job fun…”

It was very fitting, Maestas said, that council recognize poll workers on Jan. 30 because it was Help America Vote Day. Across the U.S. people were encouraged to get involved in the electoral process by being a poll worker. Locally, she said she hopes more people get involved in the election process.