Several Kansas counties could have a shortage of poll workers for the coming elections.

Bill Gale, Sedgwick County election commissioner, said polls are fully staffed for August primaries, but about 330 more workers will be needed for the November general election.

“The bad thing about that is, when we’re short, that means more work for those that are there,” Gale said. “Especially with a busy day that we’re expecting this November, we’d really like to have those positions filled.”

Brad Bryant, state election director, said many Kansas counties could experience a shortage.

“It might be worse this year because we’re expecting a larger turnout, so some counties might be beefing up their staff,” Bryant said.

He said counties are getting creative to fill the positions. Counties have the option of hiring 16- and 17-year-olds, and Gale said Sedgwick County may recruit at high schools and colleges if the positions are empty when school starts in the fall.

This spring, Douglas County’s election office tried to recruit Kansas University students via e-mail. The message, signed by KU Chancellor Bob Hemenway, invited students to participate in this “important civic endeavor” by staffing the polls.

Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew said about 40 students and staff responded to the e-mail, and the county is still about 300 volunteers short of its November needs. Shew said he expected an 80 percent voter turnout in Douglas County.

“The turnout in November is going to be so large that in order to handle the number of people, so that people aren’t standing in line, to accommodate an 80 percent turnout, we need about 600 people,” he said.

Shew said the county is beginning to ask local businesses and civic organizations to help.

“It’s pretty critical for our success in November,” he said.

Kansas isn’t the only state hurting for workers. About

2 million poll positions are open nationwide.

Bryant, the Kansas election director, said young people have a lot to offer as workers.

“They have strong backs and, technologically, they’re not intimidated by the equipment,” he said.

With the average age for poll workers in Kansas at 62, Bryant said changes in technology may also contribute to fewer people willing to work the polls.

State laws have increased pay for workers and offered half-day shifts as an alternative to the 16-hour days. The pay was about 50 cents an hour in the early 1980s. A full-day shift now pays $120, about $7.50 an hour.