News

Washington D.C. elections officials shelve plans to pay poll workers via ATM cards

November 8, 2004

The Washington Times: Hundreds of Washington D.C. poll workers will have to wait about six weeks for their paychecks for working on Nov. 2's presidential election after elections officials shelved an experiment to dole out the $100 stipends using ATM cards.

Distribution of the cards drew criticism after the city's Sept. 14 primary because of convenience fees charged by ATMs. "You had to pay the ATM machine and then you couldn't get all the money at once," said poll worker Margaret Bryant, 80. "We work hard for that money."

D.C. elections officials say the practice of using ATM cards was implemented to reduce paperwork and expedite reimbursement of poll workers. But when workers tried to access the money, some found it wasn't immediately available, while others couldn't withdraw all their money at once. The workers also reported having to pay as much as $3.75 in ATM fees.

Bill O'Field, a spokesman for the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics, said elections officials received complaints after the primary about difficulties some poll workers had using the ATM cards, though he said others "were thrilled with it."

Read more...