CHARLESTON — A local state senator is helping to promote a campaign to encourage veterans and their families to step up and assist this year’s elections by serving as poll workers.

Senate Majority Whip Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, announced Friday a partnership with national non-profit Vet the Vote, which already has recruited close to 65,000 veterans and military family members.

According to Weld, West Virginia will need more than 8,400 volunteer poll workers to carry out this year’s primary and general elections. The initiative is focused on recruiting poll workers, and thus assisting the state’s county clerks in their preparations.

“Without a doubt, veterans are the most trusted demographic in the nation. And we can think of no better group to step up and help solve our election volunteer shortage,” Weld said. “We are asking our veterans to serve once again and help ensure that all West Virginians who are able to vote in this year’s election can.”

Dan Vallone, an Army veteran and director of Vet the Vote, said that the state’s veterans and military families have always stepped forward to serve their communities.

“As trusted members of the community with a deep commitment to service, veterans and military families can play a unique role in addressing the urgent need for poll workers here in West Virginia and across the country,” Vallone said. “And by encouraging them to answer this call, we hope to forge a new tradition of patriotic civic engagement among veterans and military families.”

The West Virginia County Clerks Association has stepped up to assist with the Vet the Vote effort to ensure participation in each of the state’s 55 counties. Lewis County Clerk Cindy Rowan, who serves as the association’s president, said several members have family who are veterans, and she is hopeful they can assist with spreading the word.

“We think our veterans, who know how important public service is, will make great poll workers,” Rowan said.

Weld, who is also chairman of the Senate Military Committee, is the lead sponsor of Senate Resolution 61, Encouraging W.Va. military veterans to volunteer as election workers in 2024 statewide elections.

To volunteer as a poll worker in the May 14 primary, stop by the elections office of your county clerk before poll worker training classes begin on April 15.