Last week we got a fascinating look at just how much happens before, during and after Election Day. Our speaker was Rich Venskoske, Frederick County Director of Elections, who explained that running an election is anything but a one-day job.

Before voting begins, every piece of voting equipment undergoes extensive “Logic and Accuracy” testing to ensure it records every possible ballot choice correctly. Absentee voting adds another layer of work: this week alone, Rich reported that his office is preparing 3,200 ballots for mailing. Early voting has also grown significantly, with 36% of voters casting ballots before Election Day in the 2024 general election, compared with 22% in 2022.

Election Day itself takes an army. About 160 officers of election are needed to staff Frederick County’s 29 precincts, often working 15-hour days. Rich explained that most of the workers are retirees, so younger poll workers are needed. Behind the scenes, election officials work year-round—keeping up with changing laws, updating training materials, preparing equipment and training poll workers.

The takeaway – when we walk into a polling place, countless hours of preparation have already taken place to make that vote possible.