Lehigh Valley Political Pulse | Running an election

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=volwpMvYa70BETHLEHEM, Pa. — As Election Day approaches, voters direct attention to candidates and their platforms.

This week on Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell redirects that attention to what goes on behind the scenes during an off-year election with insight from Lehigh County Chief Clerk of Elections Tim Benyo.

"An off-year election — if you can say 'off-year' — is a little more complicated for county officials," Benyo said.

Benyo said the increase in races and candidates that come with municipal elections also presents more opportunities to make errors on ballots, especially with the number of mail-in ballots increasing over the years.

A number of roles are involved in elections, too; it's not just the front-facing poll workers voters see.

"There's statutory requirements that we have to meet," Benyo said. "There's two inspectors of elections in each polling place — they're all elected positions. So, those are requirements, along with machine operators, clerks.

"We're required by federal law to have interpreters. So, we're at about 1,000 every year of poll workers at 161 polling places. They all have to be staffed and trained and recruited."

Curious about what other requirements and federal programs election officials have to follow? Click play on the YouTube module above to watch this week's episode of Political Pulse.