Power the Polls, National Leader in Poll Worker Recruitment, Names Kerry Washington and Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger as Co-Chairs of New Advisory Council
Bipartisan Council, Comprised of Prominent Cultural, Political, and Advocacy Leaders, Will Help Lead the Effort to Recruit Poll Workers for the 2024 Elections
May 16, 2024 - Today, Power the Polls, the national, nonpartisan leader in poll worker recruitment, announced its new bipartisan Advisory Council, co-chaired by actor, producer, director, author, and activist Kerry Washington and former member of Congress Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).
The 14-member Council, featuring a diverse roster of prominent cultural, political, veteran, and advocacy leaders, will encourage more people to become poll workers, one of the most effective, nonpartisan actions everyday Americans can take in support of our democracy.
“Poll workers are frontline heroes of democracy! Their work helps to ensure that ALL Americans are able to cast our votes safely and securely,” said Washington. “By recruiting poll workers who are excited to serve their communities, Power the Polls has proven its ability to preserve trust in our electoral system, especially when democracy is under threat. It is an honor to serve as co-chair of the effort to support their commitment to democracy and recruit the next generation of poll workers.
“At a time when our democracy is facing unique and historic threats, the role poll workers play in keeping our elections free and fair has never been more important,” said Kinzinger. “That’s why Power the Polls’ work is so important and why I’m proud to serve as the Advisory Council’s Co-Chair. I encourage all Americans to sign up to be poll workers through Power the Polls as a great way to serve our communities.”
Advisory Council members represent the breadth of the Power the Polls coalition, including election officials, youth organizers, military veterans, voting champions, media, and community leaders from across the political spectrum. Advisory Council members will support the work of Power the Polls by encouraging their audiences to sign up as poll workers for the 2024 elections and serving as ambassadors for the organization. The full list of Council members includes:
- Kerry Washington, actor, producer, director, author, and activist (Co-Chair)
- Rep. Adam Kinzinger, former member of Congress (R-IL) (Co-Chair)
- Francisco Aguilar, Nevada Secretary of State
- Brad Raffensperger, Georgia Secretary of State
- Rye Barcott, co-founder, With Honor
- Crystal Echo Hawk, Founder and CEO, IllumiNative
- Annie Gonzalez, producer, actress, activist
- Arndrea Waters King, president, Drum Major Institute
- Santiago Mayer, founder and executive director, Voters of Tomorrow
- Desmond Meade, president and executive director, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition
- Ashley Spillane, founder, Civic Responsibility Project
- Gabriel Sterling, chief operating officer, Office of Georgia Secretary of State
- Charlie Sykes, former editor-in-chief, The Bulwark
- Tiffany Yu, author and founder, Diversability
“By recruiting potential poll workers, supporting election administrators, and housing a centralized hub for localized poll worker information, Power the Polls is filling in the gap between informed citizens who want to engage in civic life and the election officials who need their help,” said Power the Polls National Program Manager Marta Hanson. “I am tremendously excited to be able to partner with these important voices from across the political spectrum to recruit poll workers and ensure a safe, secure, and accessible election this fall.”
In 2020, amidst a nationwide shortage of poll workers, Power the Polls and its partners mobilized and recruited more than 700,000 potential poll workers in less than 100 days. Power the Polls formally relaunched in May 2022 to support poll worker recruitment, and in less than six months engaged more than 275,000 potential poll workers speaking more than 25 different languages, to help quickly fill any poll worker shortages. In 2024, Power the Polls has already tripled the number of jurisdictions that it is for monitoring poll worker needs (as compared to 2022) and anticipates that number continuing to grow as interest in this year’s presidential election increases.
To learn more about Power the Polls' new Advisory Council and the ongoing efforts to recruit the next generation of poll workers, and for testimonial quotes from the full slate of Council members, visit powerthepolls.org/advisory.
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About Power the Polls
Power the Polls is a first-of-its-kind, nonpartisan initiative for recruiting the next generation of poll workers to ensure safe and fair elections for all voters—and the proven national leader for poll worker recruitment. Power the Polls was co-founded by a broad coalition of businesses and nonprofits including Civic Alliance, Civic Responsibility Project, Comedy Central, Fair Elections Center, MTV Entertainment Group, Pizza to the Polls, and the Center for Secure and Modern Elections.