State signing up veterans to serve as poll workers

Georgia voters will be getting help from veterans on Election Day this year, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced last Tuesday.

Raffensperger's office will partner with Vet the Vote, a new nationwide organization that recruits veterans and members of their families to serve as volunteer poll workers.

More than 135,000 veterans across the nation will be serving as poll workers this year, Dan Valone, director of Vet the Vote, told reporters during a news conference at the Georgia Capitol.

'When people see veterans serving as poll workers, it reminds us this is a civic act,' he said.

'People trust veterans,' Raffensperger added.

In Georgia and elsewhere, veterans will be counted on to help fill a shortage of poll workers.

Raffensperger said youths as young as 15 can volunteer to serve.

'You can be in high school and be a poll worker,' he said.

Responding to last weekend's assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, Raffensperger added his voice to those calling for toning down the divisive political rhetoric that can lead to violence.

'As Americans, we need to unite … and handle our political disputes at the ballot box,' he said.

Raffensperger was due to repeat the announcement of the partnership with Vet the Vote at news conferences later Tuesday in Marietta and Dallas, and again in Newnan.