By Eamon Baird

[email protected]

TROY — The Miami County Commissioners authorized a resolution for county employees to serve as Precinct Election Officials (PEOs) at their meeting on Thursday, Sept. 19.

Laura Bruns, director of the Miami County Board of Elections, spoke about the details for those interested in serving as a PEO on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

“This resolution will allow county employees to serve as PEOs on Election Day in polling locations without having to take a leave day, for either sick or vacation leave,” said Bruns.

“Each department head will have to give permission or elected official will have to give authorization to their employees and individually authorize who can and who might be able to participate in their department,” she added.

There are 87 precincts in Miami County. On Election Day four poll workers are required at each location for a total of 348. Bruns said the Secretary of State is requiring training an additional 30% of potential PEOs in case individuals are unable to serve on Election Day due to illness, or other circumstances.

“We like to have extra people for every election, but this is quite a few more than we’re typically used to having,” Bruns said. “For county employees who might volunteer, we would like them to come to training. They may or may not end up having to work and they might be on that like substitute list, but it just allows them to help us out in a very busy election.”

The PEOs will get paid $15 for training and will earn $150 if they work on Election Day. They will be required to report to their polling location no later than 5:45 a.m. and remain until the polling location is closed and packed at around 8:15 p.m.

For more information on serving visit the Miami County Board of Elections website at www.boe.ohio.gov/miami/election-info/election-workers.