Carbon County announced it is looking for a handful of poll workers for the upcoming Primary Election next month.

On Thursday, Jennifer Ketchledge, elections director, told the election board that there are open clerks positions in Franklin Township — Long Run, Lansford East, Penn Forest Northwest and Penn Forest East; as well as an open judge position in Palmerton Borough East. Some of these positions are only needed for the May 20 election as the normal people are unavailable that day.

Clerks are paid $175 for the day; while judges are paid $195. They also receive training, mileage and pick up.

If interested in serving as a poll worker, contact the elections office at 570-325-4801.

Ketchledge said that workers do not need to live in the municipality of these vacancies, as long as they are a registered voter in Carbon County.

In related election matters, the board approved several other clerk and judge positions that had been open in various precincts.

Voter totals

The board also approved the registration totals of eligible voters in the primary. Democratic voters total 14,033; while Republicans total 23,492, for a total of 37,525. The primary is only open to these two parties, however, there are a total of 44,811 registered voters in Carbon County who are listed under a variety of parties.

The last day to register to vote in the primary is May 5.

Mail-ins and absentees

Ketchledge announced that those who applied for mail-in and absentee ballots should expect to see them in their mailbox this week.

These ballots will be going in the mail today.

There are a total of 2,496 mail-in applications to date; however residents can file a mail-in or absentee application until May 13.