Louisville Teams Up with Local Businesses to Recruit Poll Workers
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In an exciting initiative, restaurants, breweries, and wineries across Kentucky are collaborating with the Secretary of State to recruit poll workers for the upcoming elections. This effort comes at a crucial time when participation at the polls is more important than ever.
Breweries Raise Awareness
In Louisville, local breweries are stepping up to get the word out about the need for poll workers. Jason Smith, the Director of Operations at Against the Grain, shared that his brewery has been part of this initiative before. “We helped recruit poll workers in 2020 and are excited to be a part of it again,” he said. Smith also explained, “We’re just out there promoting advertising. You’ll find hangers with your codes on our beer cans and at stores around the Louisville area that people can go to and sign up to be a poll worker. It’s important to have those, especially in big election years.”
Community Efforts Expand
The initiative has gained support from organizations such as the Kentucky Guild of Brewers, the Kentucky Wineries Association, and the Kentucky Restaurant Association. A new participant in this effort is Trellis Brewery, which has recently joined in on the recruitment. Its founder, Kyle Jahn, mentioned, “We recently held a voter registration event, and we’d love to help however we can.”
Community Response
Local patrons have responded positively to the initiative. Customers Chris Sonntag and Michael Beringer expressed their appreciation for the local organizations encouraging volunteerism at polling stations. “There is a need for poll workers; right now is a very important time,” Sonntag noted. Beringer added, “People need to get out and vote, and there are people there to count the votes and make sure everything goes smoothly… It’s a good idea that these restaurants and breweries realize that their patrons want an honest and fair election.”
Goals of the Initiative
Smith emphasized that the primary goal is to increase poll worker registration and encourage voter turnout. “Well, like I always say, high tide raises all boats,” he said. “When we all get together and push behind the same initiative, it really helps get that word out there and let people know that there is a need they can assist with.”
How to Get Involved
Anyone interested in becoming a poll worker can obtain more details through the Secretary of State’s office. This initiative has already attracted several businesses ready to help bolster the numbers of available poll workers. Here are some participating locations:
Participating Breweries:
- Against the Grain, 401 E. Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202
- Butchertown Brewery, 1860 Mellwood Ave #187, Louisville, KY 40206
- Dreaming Creek Brewery, 109 E. Irvine Street, Richmond, KY 40475
- Trellis Brewery, 827 Logan Street, Louisville, KY 40204
- White Squirrel Brewery, 302 State Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101
- Wise Bird Cider Co., 1170 Manchester Street, Suite 140, Lexington, KY 40508
Participating Wineries:
- Boucherie Winery, 6523 Keyway Drive, Spottsville, KY 42458
- Carriage House Vineyards, 259 Longview Lane, Auburn, KY 42206
- Ghost Fox Winery, 2385 Chrisman Mill Rd., Nicholasville, KY 40356
Participating Restaurants:
- Ciao Restaurant, 1201 Payne Street, Louisville, KY 40204
- Ramsey’s Diners, all Lexington locations
This collaboration is a terrific way to engage the community and ensure that vital roles are filled for a successful election. Encouraging local involvement in such initiatives not only helps with the smooth running of the voting process but also strengthens community bonds.
