Citizens can earn extra money and serve their communities by working at the polls on Election Day, June 6, 2006.

Election officials are currently recruiting qualified persons to staff the 159 polling places to be located throughout the county on June 6.

To serve in the polls, a person must be a registered voter or must be a high school senior, age 16 or over, with at least a 2.5 grade point average.

Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Poll workers must report to duty a half hour or more prior to opening the polls and must stay two or more hours after the polls close to prepare the ballots for return to the central counting location. Poll workers are provided breaks throughout the day.

Poll workers are paid $60 for clerks and $80 for inspectors, plus an additional $20 for attending the training class if they complete their service at the polls. In the county’s 159 polling places for the November election, one inspector is required and three or more clerks for each polling place. Persons who speak Spanish are especially needed.

Poll worker duties include attending a 1˝-hour training class held in advance of the election, setting up the polling place on Election Day, opening the polls, processing voters, closing the polls, certifying the work completed, and delivering election materials to the election return center.

Polling places are located at schools, churches, parks, libraries, fire stations, private homes, local businesses, and other public places throughout Santa Cruz County.

For more information or to apply, call Tracey Rosenthal at the Santa Cruz County Elections Department, at 831-454-2060, come to the office located at 701 Ocean St., Room 210, in Santa Cruz, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit our website at www.votescount.com