POLL WORKERS SEE FUNCTION AS CIVIC DUTY.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

For most people, going to the polls to vote marks the end of their civic duty on Election Day. But for a select few, the call of duty goes well beyond the ballot box.

They are the poll workers, who run every election from the board of education for the tiniest one-room school to the U.S. president.

``I believe first to be a good American you should vote,'' said Chuck Yroman, 70, manning the poll Tuesday at a Newhall driving school. ``To be a better American, you should volunteer.''

Recruiting poll workers is challenging, and Los Angeles and neighboring Ventura counties have taken aggressive steps in recent years to bolster their forces. The modest stipend has increased, and class credits are offered to students who spend the 15-hour shift at the polls.

Yroman was one of nearly 200 volunteers in the Santa Clarita Valley working the election tables at 58 precincts.

The workers are trained and assigned by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's Office to work in homes, businesses, schools, churches or any other location deemed appropriate for a polling place.

Each of the 58 precincts in the Santa Clarita Valley has one inspector, a judge and two clerks who man the booths making sure that votes are official and cast legitimately.

Lucille Whitmore, 79, an inspector at a polling site at a Newhall church, finds her job rewarding.

``I feel like I'm contributing to the community,'' she said. ``It's my civic duty.''

The Newhall resident has been a volunteer for 10 years after accepting an invitation from a friend to help.

``Once they get your name they don't take it off,'' she said.

County officials say that finding volunteers to work during elections can be a challenge and they rely heavily on those who have signed up in the past.

``It's the most difficult job in the election office,'' said Bruce Bradley, assistant registrar for Ventura County. ``It's very hard to get people.''

Ventura County officials said that as seniors age or move away, the task of recruiting new volunteers gets even harder.

``Why would anyone do it?'' asked Bradley. ``They don't do it for the money. You have to be very patriotic and very civic-minded.''

Inspectors in Ventura County get paid $73 and clerks get paid $60. Each also get $5 for attending a class.

Recently, stipends for the Los Angeles County workers increased. Payments now are $75 for inspectors and $55 for judges and clerks. Workers are paid an additional $25 for attending a two-hour training class.

``We're hoping that with the raised stipend we'll get more workers,'' said Conny McCormack, Registrar of Voters. ``We have much more need for many more workers.''

On Tuesday, Ventura County officials had 130 volunteers manning 43 precincts.

In Los Angeles County, more than 4,000 workers worked more than 1,000 polling places.

Both counties are trying to recurit younger workers, using the offer of school credit as a lure. Ninety-nine students in Los Angeles County took the bait this election day.

The program has not worked well in Ventura County, where just two students helped out.

Beginning this month, employees of Los Angeles County were offered a chance to work the polls pending the approval of their supervisors. A few dozen workers took the option, padding the poll worker force.

Keith Nicholson, 34, of Newhall said that he volunteers to serve as an example to his kids. ``I believe in voting,'' he said. ``I believe every vote counts. It's a good example for my kids.''

Nicholson is a sales associate at Home Depot with plans to work in law enforcement, and perhaps run for office himself some day. For now, he enjoys helping others vote.

``It's nice to see my neighbors,'' Nicholson said. ``They see that I'm active. It will look good on my resume when I get into law enforcement. It's not going to get you rich but you're doing you're duty.''

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4 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- color -- ran in Simi and Conejo edition only) Poll workers are trained and assigned by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's Office to work in homes, businesses, schools, churches or any other location deemed appropriate for a polling place.

(2 -- ran in Simi and Conejo edition only) Voters in this Agoura Hills community cast their ballots in a garage that has been converted for the day into a polling place.

(3 -- color -- ran in Conejo edition only) On Election Day in Agoura Hills, Marge Caraplis and her husband, Louis, register before heading to the booths.

Lilly Barrett/Special to the Daily News

(4 -- color -- ran in SAC edition only) Ryan, 11, gets a peek at democracy in action as his mother, Karen Jameson, fills out her ballot on Election Day morning in Valencia.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News