County poll workers will get tested for literacy, blindness

Poll workers in Palm Beach County who sign up to work at neighborhood polling places will now have to pass a written test first.

Beginning this summer, people who sign up to work at polling places will have to take a written test.

Typically, these workers are retirees and senior citizens.

And the county's top election official says they need to pass a test each year to show they can do the job.

They will be tested on their knowledge of how to operate the voting equipment and state election law. 

"If you can't pass a minimum proficiency test, then you probably shouldn't be working at the polls,"  said Susan Bucher, supervisor of elections.

"We're just making sure that we have the best poll workers that we can for our voters."

Bucher says she was surprised to learn recently they had a blind person working at one of the polling places, and another one who was illiterate. She says the written tests will be given this summer, prior to the August 4 election.