The Committee of Seventy, in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, is hosting a series of virtual information sessions to support Pennsylvanians serving as poll workers and poll watchers in the upcoming May 20, 2025, primary election. Launched April 22 and running through May 19, the sessions are designed to prepare new and experienced poll workers to uphold election integrity and ensure a smooth experience for voters.
The sessions include essential information for poll workers across Pennsylvania in the Poll Worker 101 sessions, as well as specialized sessions on poll watching, using Philadelphia’s e-poll books, open Q&A opportunities, and de-escalation training, first introduced during the 2024 cycle to help poll workers navigate potential challenges at polling places.
“Just because it’s not a presidential election year doesn’t mean the need for poll workers is any less urgent,” said Lauren Cristella, President and CEO of the Committee of Seventy. “Every election, we rely on more than 45,000 Pennsylvanians to help our democracy function. These information sessions are about making sure those who step up are ready to serve their communities with clarity and purpose. Poll workers are essential to maintaining access, fairness, and trust in our elections, no matter what’s on the ballot.”
Leading the sessions is Seventy’s Senior Advisor on Election Administration, Jeff Greenburg, a former Mercer County election director who has trained more than 10,000 poll workers over his career.
“These sessions aren’t just informational, they foster confidence in our elections,” said Greenburg. “From first-time poll workers to seasoned veterans, understanding the rules, processes, and expectations helps ensure a smooth Election Day for everyone involved. We’re here to break down the law, answer questions, and prepare Pennsylvanians to serve in these critical roles.”
The information sessions aim to complement the required training covering the fundamentals of poll worker procedures offered by Pennsylvania counties. These sessions provide a practical overview for new participants and a helpful refresher for veterans of the process. Poll watcher sessions will also clarify the appropriate and legal role of observers at polling locations.
“The time to participate in our democracy is now,” said Susan Gobreski, President of the State Board of Directors for the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. “Voting always matters and helping to make sure all eligible voters are able to cast their ballot is one of the most important acts any one of us can do.”
More information on the sessions, including a full schedule and sign-up links, is available on Seventy’s website. Additional tools and resources for poll workers and poll watchers can be found there, too.
It should be noted that elected poll worker positions will be on the ballot during the primary election on May 20th as well. While the deadline to submit nominating petitions for these positions has passed, interested candidates can still run through a write-in campaign.
