How Dresden wants to win election workers

In order to be able to hold the elections, to open the polling stations and to count the votes, the city needs a lot of helpers. There is little money for this honorary position, so there are fewer and fewer election workers. That’s why Dresden wants to offer some something extra.

Above all, the city has a problem with filling the posts of the electoral board. With the trend towards an increase in the number of ballot boxes and postal voting districts, the need for voluntary electoral workers has increased significantly over the past ten years, “according to a submission by Mayor Detlef Sittel (CDU).” . “

Election workers should receive compensation for their time off

Sittel has found that town hall employees or employees of the city’s own businesses in particular are jumping off. Her experience is particularly valuable so that electoral boards do not have to be instructed again and again. The main thing is that not only the free Sunday, but also Monday morning is sacrificed. “Electoral workers are often not released on the following working day and, if possible, have to take compensatory hours at the expense of their personal time account,” says Sittel. “Time and pressure to succeed, as well as the public during the election process and the counting, meanwhile represent a psychologically demanding mission that should not be underestimated.”

For this reason, municipal employees and those who run their own businesses should generally receive eight hours of free time in addition to their compensation. If several elections take place in a year, an additional two hours are added on each election day, according to Sittel’s suggestion. In addition, the specified training dates should be counted as working time.

So far there has been a confusing regulation that has led to injustices. Now this should be standardized. Now one wants to orientate oneself “on the actual use in the context of the election”. It should be a “support in acquisition” and contribute to “countering the fluctuation that has been observed in recent years”. Corona can be expected to make it increasingly difficult to find election workers.

Engaging election workers is the last resort

In addition, the city is dependent on election workers to be able to hold elections. But Sittel wants to rely on voluntary work. Because the city can also simply oblige citizens.

“So far, the city has been able to forego the possibility of public law obligations on the part of Dresden residents,” said Sittel. “Such an obligation can and should only be imposed if no other necessary and equally suitable measures are effective.”

There is compensation for all election workers: Members of the election committees receive 45 euros for attending a meeting, the chairman and deputy of the municipal election committee also receive 45 euros, assessors and deputies receive 35 euros.