PHOENIX – The national Mi Familia Vota organization has long been involved in voting rights issues and other matters of civic engagement, but this year it's added a new initiative: Recruiting bilingual poll workers.The Phoenix-based group is joining advocacy organizations, nonprofits and even businesses across the U.S.
in trying to persuade younger people to work at polling places, especially those who are bilingual.The coronavirus has upended how elections officials recruit poll workers, who are typically older and thus more susceptible to becoming seriously ill from COVID-19.
Using digital recruitment campaigns and celebrity endorsements, various groups are selling the role as a key to democracy. Major companies such as Old Navy also have.