City of Columbus Announces Precinct Election Official Leave
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, along with Columbus City Council
President Shannon G. Hardin and Franklin County Board of Elections Director Ed
Leonard today announced a Precinct Election Official Leave Program to encourage
City of Columbus employees to work the General Election on November 3, 2020.
“The election process in our country is sacred, and we must
do all we can to ensure that residents can vote safely,” said Mayor Ginther. “I
am pleased that city employees – every one of them a public servant – will be
able to choose to participate as poll workers, if they so desire, without
having to use vacation time.”
Any Columbus employee who is a registered voter of Franklin
County, who resides in the City of Columbus, and who meets the other
requirements established by the law and the Franklin County Board of Elections
may request Election Official Leave with pay for the purposes of being a judge
of an election engaged by the Franklin County Board of Elections.
“Giving City of Columbus employees a paid day off to serve
as poll workers will mean shorter lines and safer in-person voting,” said
Council President Hardin. “We’ve been pushing to ensure this election is
accessible for our residents as a part of Council’s Vote Safe Initiative. As
others try to spread disinformation, Council will continue to explore creative
ways to protect this November’s election.”
Columbus City Council will vote on two Memorandums of
Understanding, one with the Communications Workers of America, (CWA) Local
4502, and one with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
(AFCSME) Ohio Council 8, Local 1632, on Monday, October 5, 2020.
“I would like to thank Mayor Ginther, President Hardin, and
City of Columbus workers for stepping up to answer the call to serve as poll
workers during this important election,” said Director Ed Leonard. “Poll
workers play a critical role in administering elections here in Franklin County
and across Ohio, and if ever there was a time to serve as a poll worker, that
time is now."