Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar talks with Las Vegas resident and Vietnam War veteran Phillip Davis during the Vet the Vote event on April 26, 2024.
Friday, April 26, 2024 | 3:07 p.m.
National voting advocacy group Vet the Vote held an event today alongside state and Clark County officials to encourage veterans to become poll workers.
Joined by Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar and Clark County Registrar of Voters Lorena Portillo, Vet the Vote provided veterans and others a chance to learn about poll working.
After brief speeches from the two officials and Vet the Vote President Dan Vallone, attendees were invited to ask questions and observe a mock poll setup to get a better understanding of a poll worker’s responsibilities.
“Today, the country needs veterans and military family members to serve again,” Vallone said. “We need veterans and military family members to join with their neighbors and communities and show us again what it means for Americans of all backgrounds and all views to work together for a common purpose.”
Vet the Vote is a national movement encouraging veterans and their family members to get involved in the electoral process.
In 2022, more than 63,000 veterans served at polling places through Vet the Vote. This year, the group is aiming to have over 100,000 veterans apply to be poll workers.
Vet the Vote is also looking to hire a full-time member of their organization to work in Nevada.
Aguilar underscored Nevada’s role as a swing state, calling Nevada a “deeply purple” state. He said voters in Nevada will play a pivotal role in deciding the next president in the November election.
Aguilar and Portillo also touched on election integrity and safety, emphasizing that steps were being taken to ensure the safety of poll workers and to deter election interference.
“I want to be clear: attacks on our election workers are attacks on our democracy,” Aguilar said.
Phillip Davis, a Las Vegas resident and Vietnam War veteran, has worked the polls for the last two election cycles.
“To me, it’s the right thing to do if you have the time,” Davis said. “Sure, it’s long hours, but the camaraderie, compassion, the people — I just love the people I’m working with.”
