Returning Poll Worker? Participate in a Research Study ($250 Stipend)
Dear Returning Poll Workers in the New England Area (not only Boston)
We are excited to recruit some returning poll worker for a research study led by Boston University researchers. By returning, we mean people who have worked more than once as a poll worker.
The study entails drafting field notes (like a diary) of your recollections of what happened during Election Day, outside of your working hours and at your home, sharing them with us, and, debriefing, if needed, with a member of our research team.
If you wish to participate, we will ask you to please do the following:
1. Complete (online) a "Social-Behavioral-Educational (SBE) Foundations” certificate that allows you to conduct research involving human subjects (No cost to you.) It might take up to 1h30. Some people list this on their CV since it’s valid across universities.
2. We will then send you links to a short (online) video (30 minutes) on taking field notes prior to Election Day. We will also share examples of past field notes and a short reading.
3. We will ask you to send an informational sheet to your city clerk or election administration officials, so they are also aware of what you are doing.
4. On Tuesday November 3rd try to record small voice memos of what happened on your phone to help jolt your memory. You will not have much time to write extensive notes so recording memos during your lunch/dinner breaks on your phone will help.
5. After poll-working, ideally within a week or two, draft your notes, trying to remember what happened. Don’t worry about spelling/grammar, short paragraphs are fine. Aim for 6/7 pages single-spaced and no more than 10. Do not write real names! Only pseudonyms or initials.
6. To thank you for your help and time, once you send in your notes, you will receive a $250 stipend directly deposited to your bank account. (If unbanked, let us know and we will figure out an alternative.)
If this is of interest to you, please let reply to this message, including where plan on working (city/ward/precinct) and we will follow up with you. We are looking for diversity in terms of poll worker locations and demographics!