In Part 1 (Why Is It Necessary To Ensure The Integrity Of Our Elections? | Prince William-Manassas Family Alliance (familyallianceonline.org)), we considered why we should be concerned about the integrity of our elections. Here we will look at something we can do to ensure the integrity of our elections.

How Do We Volunteer To Be An Election Officer?

So, what can we do personally as good citizens to ensure that our elections are honest? We can participate in the process of collecting and counting the vote. We can volunteer to be an election officer. How do we volunteer? In Prince William County the first step is to go to Elections & Registration | pwcvotes. Go to the main menu bar and look for Elections & Registration. Click on Elections & Registration. When the drop down menu appears, click on Become an Election Officer. That will bring up Become an Election Officer | pwcvotes. This page links to an online application. In addition, Become an Election Officer | pwcvotes tells provides us information about the job. Check it out.

Does just volunteering mean you will be chosen to be an election officer? No. Virginia Law provides the ground rules. Check out Election Law – Virginia Department of Elections, but don’t worry. We don’t have to read the whole thing. It is worthwhile, however, to see what § 24.2-115. Appointment, qualifications, and terms of officers of election (virginia.gov) says. Note this part in particular.

Not less than three competent citizens shall be appointed for each precinct. However, a precinct having more than 4,000 registered voters shall have not less than five officers of election serving for a presidential election, and the electoral board shall appoint additional officers as needed to satisfy this requirement. Insofar as practicable, each officer shall be a qualified voter of the precinct he is appointed to serve, but in any case a qualified voter of the Commonwealth. In appointing the officers of election, representation shall be given to each of the two political parties having the highest and next highest number of votes in the Commonwealth for Governor at the last preceding gubernatorial election. The representation of the two parties shall be equal at each precinct having an even number of officers and shall vary by no more than one at each precinct having an odd number of officers. If practicable, officers shall be appointed from lists of nominations filed by the political parties entitled to appointments. The party shall file its nominations with the secretary of the electoral board at least 10 days before February 1 each year. The electoral board may appoint additional citizens who do not represent any political party to serve as officers. If practicable, no more than one-third of the total number of officers appointed for each precinct may be citizens who do not represent any political party.

§ 24.2-115. Appointment, qualifications, and terms of officers of election (virginia.gov)

Note that the two major political parties have a big say on who serves as an election. Because the integrity of our elections has become so controversial, the two major political parties have renewed their focus on nominating election officers. Their problem is that it is lots of work to put together a list of nominees. Why? Prince William County currently has 93 voting precincts, and we can expect number of precincts to grow after redistricting is finished. That means each party ideally needs at couple of hundred volunteers.

If you favor one of the two major political parties, and you are serious about serving as an election officer, then you can make it easier for your favorite political party. Youcan contact the local officials of your favorite party. Note that there is a February 1st deadline. So, you want to get this done NOW!

Here is a start for finding contact information.

• Front Page – Prince William County Democrats (princewilliamdemocrats.com)
• Prince William County Republican Committee – Official Website of the Prince William County Republican Committee (pwcgop.gop)
• Manassas Republican Committee (themanassasgop.com)
• Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee | Keeping Virginia and Our Two Cities Blue (manassascitydemocrats.org)
• Manassas Park Republican Committee – Home | Facebook

What is next?

• What About Election Laws?
• How Are The Political Parties Involved?
• What About Early Voting?
• What About Counting The Absentee Vote?
• What Can We Do To Get The General Assembly To Strengthen The Integrity Of Our Elections?