It’s no small feat to pull off an election, even in Clark County.

Regardless of the size or number of ballots, there must be 104 people to staff Clark County’s 26 precincts on primary and election days.

Clark County Clerk Michelle Turner has been advertising recently for precinct workers for the May 22 primary. As of Tuesday morning, all the spots were filled with several alternates on hand. That doesn’t mean they won’t need others for election day. Last minute situations may happen and an alternate would need to be called early that morning to work.

“We were short some anyway,” Turner said. “We had five (previous workers) who passed away since the last election.”

Several teachers are regular precinct workers, she said, but this year Clark County teachers have an in-service day May 22. A lot of retirees also staff precincts, she said, but others may have to stop for a variety of issues.

State law also requires two Democrats and two Republicans staff each precinct. It also requires balancing personalities among workers, she said.

This year with up to five ballots at some precincts, experienced workers will be key, she said.

Each precinct worker must complete a two and a half hour “college school” class May 16 to work the election, she said.

On election day, workers must be at the precincts at 5:30 a.m. to set up the voting machines and prepare for polls to open at 6 a.m., she said. After polls close at 6 p.m. and the last voter votes, they have to take everything down and deliver the totals to the clerks office.

It makes for a long day, she said, especially since they can not leave the precinct.

The pay, she said, is $25 for attending election school and $125 for working the election.

For more information, call Turner’s office at 745-0280 extension 3.