LISBON — Voting at the Columbiana County Board of Elections begins today, with election officials asking anyone interested in being a poll worker on Election Day Nov. 5 to please come forward.

“We need poll workers. They are paid, but it’s more of a civic responsibility,” Board of Elections Chairman David Johnson said Monday.

Board of Elections Director Kim Fusco put the plea out for poll workers during the board meeting, noting there will be several opportunities for the required training starting Oct. 15. Poll workers must commit to working on Election Day from 5:45 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. for $130 for the day. Poll workers also receive $15 for the training. Presiding judges also receive mileage in addition to the $130 for the day.

Fusco said there are some organizations and clubs that use the opportunity as a fundraiser, noting that members donate the pay they receive as poll workers to their organization or club.

“I thought that was a nice idea,” she said.

The task of recruiting poll workers is an ongoing challenge according to Fusco.

She said there’s a specific need for more poll workers who are Democrats. Each precinct must be staffed with at least two Democrats and Two Republicans. They must be registered to vote. Anyone interested should call the board office at 330-424-1448.

That’s also a requirement for part-time temporary office employees being hired to help out during early in-person voting. During the meeting, the board agreed to hire 13 part-time workers, who will receive $16 per hour, but Fusco said they still need more Democrats for parity, with several Republicans already hired. Besides being a registered voter, some election experience is a plus, along with limited computer skills.

Fusco said they’ve recruited some poll workers to work in the office and they’ve put the word out with the chairmen of the county Republicans and Democrats of the need for temporary office workers and poll workers.

Fusco advised the board that there were 6,101 requests for absentee ballots, which will be mailed out today. Of those 6,101, there were 1,563 Republicans, 772 Democrats and 3,766 Independents.

During the 2020 presidential election, the office employed 20 extra workers besides the six-member full-time staff to handle early voting, but that was also during COVID. She said anyone interested can come to the office on Dickey Drive in Lisbon to drop off a resume or fill out an application.

The early in-person voting hours for the county Board of Elections are:

— Today through Friday, and Oct. 14-18, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— Oct. 21-25, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

— Oct. 26, Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

— Oct. 27, Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

— Oct. 28, Monday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

— Oct. 29, Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

— Oct. 30-Nov. 1, Wednesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

— Nov. 2, Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

— Nov. 3, Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

There will be no voting on the day before the election.

The board set several upcoming meeting dates related to pre and post election actions: 10:30 a.m. Nov. 4 and Election Night on Nov. 5; 1:30 a.m. Nov. 15 to approve provisional ballots; and 4:30 p.m. Nov. 19 to certify the general election results.

The county Board of Elections is located at 7989 Dickey Drive, Lisbon.