NEWARK – In response to the passage and signing into law of A208/S1290 increasing poll worker pay from $200 to $300/day and allocating $7 million to pay for the increase, the following can be attributed to Aaron Greene, Associate Counsel in the Democracy & Justice Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice:
“We commend the Legislature for passing, and Gov. Murphy for signing into law, an increase in poll worker pay.
“With municipal and congressional elections ahead of us this year, it was absolutely necessary for the state to address the ongoing problem of poll worker shortages quickly and to make this pay increase permanent.
“Increasing poll worker pay is also the right thing to do. Poll workers are an essential part of keeping our democracy functioning and they deserve to be given not only our respect, but also fair compensation.”
The Institute testified in support of the poll worker pay increase bill and has long supported an increase to poll worker pay.