Training for potential poll workers will be held during the month of June in Picayune and Poplarville.

According to a press release from the Pearl River County Election Commissioners, the Circuit Clerk, the Democratic Executive Committee and the Republican Executive Committee, training for those who have never worked a poll before will be held Thursday, June 7, from 10-12 a.m. at Magnolia Columns in Picayune. A training session for new poll workers was held in Poplarville Tuesday, June 5, at the Poplarville Chancery Court.

Seasoned poll workers are encouraged to attend training, which will be held at Magnolia Columns on June 12 from 6-8 p.m., June 14 from 9-11 a.m., at the Poplarville County Courthouse from 9-11 a.m. on June 19, 6-8 p.m. on June 21, 9-11 a.m. on June 26, and back at Magnolia Columns on June 28 from 6-8 p.m.

Ideally, each party will provide four poll workers for each of the 34 precincts in the county, said Reggie Hanberry, chairman of the Republican Executive Committee. There should be a minimum of two workers per party at each precinct, Hanberry said.

“We’re having problems recruiting workers now due to the new voting machines. Most people are very leery when it comes to these new machines,” Hanberry said.

Receiving and returning managers are most responsible for handling the voting machines, he said. Training for receiving and returning managers only will be held July 17, 19, 24, and 26. Locations and times for this training will be announced at a later date.

Training will progress from beginning poll workers to more experienced workers, and will cover all aspects of information needed to work the polls, Hanberry said.

The training sessions are only for people who wish to work the polls in the August primaries. Please do not bring children to the sessions.

For more information, call Sherry Morris, Chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee at (601) 795-6717 or (601) 795-6070 or Reggie Hanberry at (601) 798-0832.