Oakland County, Michigan, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007 -- Ruth Johnson, the Oakland County Clerk/Register, honored long-time election workers Wednesday, including one woman who has served as a poll worker since Dwight D. Eisenhower was president.

Violet Downs, 81, of Highland Township, who began helping out at the polls in 1952 - when bread cost 16 cents a loaf and gasoline was 27 cents a gallon - said she likes being an election worker because "I get to know who won!"

"Eisenhower, he was my man, I'll tell you," Downs said. "I think we ought to all pay attention to what's going on now and I think every one of us should help out when we can. Helping as an election worker gives me a little more political knowledge - I get to know what makes the cookie crumble." (Photo on right.)

Johnson presented awards to dozens of election workers, all with more than 25 years of service, as part of Help Oakland Vote Day. Johnson and more than 30 local city and township clerks created the special day to highlight the need for election workers.

"What a better way to kick off Help Oakland Vote Day than by honoring those people who already help make Democracy work in Oakland County," Johnson told the honorees. "Some of you have worked 30 years, some 40, some 50 years. Collectively - you have worked 2,853 years. That kind of commitment is astounding."

Help Oakland Vote Day did raise awareness. Many potential poll workers called or visited those communities and Oakland County Wednesday to sign up. Several communities hosted voter registration drives or demonstrations of the new voting equipment. Poll workers are paid, usually between $100-150 a day.

"Some communities have enough workers, but others are really struggling," Johnson said. "This is a great way for people to meet their neighbors, make a little money and more importantly, be engaged in the democratic process."

One concern is that "snowbird" election workers won't be back in time for the Jan. 15 Primary Election, Johnson said. "That's the unknown right now - we don't know how many will be back."

Poll workers are paid, although many work on Election Day as a way to give back to their communities, Johnson said. "Democracy isn't a spectator sport. We need people to get involved and help keep the system working smoothly."

According to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, the average age of an election worker in this country is 72.

Farmington Hills City Clerk Kathy Dornan said poll workers are dedicated and hardworking. They generally put in at least a 14-hour day. "A great precinct worker is one of the clerk's most valuable assets," Dornan said. "Although we conduct elections, it's impossible for us to be in every precinct. We have to rely on our poll workers."

Cities participating include Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Lathrup Village, Madison Heights, Novi, Oak Park, Pontiac, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Southfield, Sylvan Lake, Troy and Walled Lake.

Townships participating include Addison, Bloomfield, Brandon, Commerce, Groveland, Highland, Independence, Milford, Novi, Oxford, Southfield, Springfield, Waterford, West Bloomfield and White Lake.

"There's a shortage of qualified election workers," said Oak Park City Clerk Sandra Gadd. "We encourage everyone who is thinking about it to apply so we can get them trained this year. We're really going to need them in 2008."

Anyone interested in becoming a poll worker can visit the Oakland County Clerk/Register web site for additional information at www.oakgov.com/clerkrod or visit their local community clerk's office.