Mahoning County elections employees get a real workout

By KATIE SEMINARA

Mahoning County elections employees get a real workout.

YOUNGSTOWN — Over the course of seven days leading up to the election, some employees at the Mahoning County Board of Elections walked more than a marathon — 26 miles.

“We average about five miles a day,” said Marsha Karzmer of Boardman, who is seasonal employee for the board.

Karzmer wears a pedometer to track her steps during the busy day, and at 11:30 a.m. Monday, she had walked 4,648 steps, or about two miles. By 12:30 p.m., she was up to 5,797 steps.

The line of early voters at the board never seemed to shorten, and workers were helping more than 400 people a hour.

On Sunday 1,800 area residents voted within four hours, said deputy director Joyce Kale-Pesta.

The board was expecting 3,000 voters Monday.

“We’ve never seen these kinds of numbers,” said Kale-Pesta.

People in line waited about 45 minutes to fill out ballots.

“Voters have been patient and happy. They are just very excited to vote,” she said.

“We’re thrilled because this is our business.”

And business was booming.

“This is the busiest I ever seen it,” said Karin Richards, who has worked as a seasonal employee for five years.

Workers go through at least 12 pots of coffee a day, she said.

Today Richards will visit five local voting precincts making sure machines are running smoothly and fixing any Election Day hiccups.

“A lot of things can happen at one time,” she said of problems in one spot while she is at another.

Granola bars and a charged cell phone will be essential for Richards’ long day.

Sloppy Joes will be eaten instead of granola bars at voting Precinct 2 in Austintown, if there’s enough time for a break, said Kathy Carroll, presiding judge.

“I always make food and bring it to four precincts,” she said.

Carroll and her husband have been working the polls for about 12 years.

“I’m nervous. You want to make sure you do a good job,” she said.

This year is different because 113 absentee ballots were sent and there are normally less than 10, said Carroll.

“I feel like there are a lot of people who usually don’t worry about voting but will be out there on Election Day.”

Other than preparing food, Carroll prepared herself mentally by studying her notes from training.

Carroll will be up by 4:30 a.m. to start election day and hopes to be home by 8 p.m.

“Then we’ll be home with a bowl of popcorn to watch the election coverage,” she said of winding down after the 15-hour day.

Arthur Greenfield will also be manning a precinct as the presiding judge for the election day.

“Physically there is nothing you can do to prepare; you just go there and put one foot in front of the other,” he said.

Greenfield has been working the polls for eight to 10 years and will be at Youngstown precinct 5E.

Greenfield believes this election will have the largest number of voters he has ever seen.

“It’s a civic duty,” he said of working the polls.

“I do enjoy it, but it’s a long, hard day.”