"I became a poll watcher because I thought it would be fun," says Helen Vogt of Port Washington, "and I'd see all my neighbors." Thirty years later, she still thinks it's fun and that for the most part the voters are pleasant and cooperative. Of course local elections, where one candidate runs unopposed, are a bit "boring." She also welcomes the extra income.

This year Mrs. Vogt expects to welcome a lot of new co-workers. In addition to the people who supervise operations of the familiar lever-type machines, two more election inspectors (the official job title), trained in the operation of the new handicap-accessible Ballot Marking Devices (BMDs), will be added to each polling place. It is hoped that all voting machines will have been replaced with optical scan machines that use these ballot-marking devices by 2009.

Applying for the job of election inspector (the official title) is easy if you're a registered voter. Go to the Nassau County Board of Elections website for an application form or phone 571-2411. Applicants must be registered voters in the county in which they will be working. The Nassau County Board of Elections is composed of representatives of the two major political parties. If you're a member of one or the other, your application will go directly to that party's supervisor of elections. If you are registered as independent or with a minor party, you may ask either section of the Board of Education to process your application. And watch out that you don't send that application of Nassau County in Florida.

Experienced election inspectors will receive training in the new equipment, as will the new election inspectors, and will be paid for the training as well as for working at the polling place on Election Day. Pay is $150 for a full election day. Training session pay is $15 plus a gasoline allowance. People with computer skills are especially sought for the BMD assignments. Mrs. Vogt points out the election inspector may be called to work five or seven times a year at primary and general elections, village, school and library board and special district elections and an occasion special election to fill a vacant post.

According to Jane Thomas, president of the League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset, this is a direct way in which citizens can assist in the voting process and take part in one of democracy's most essential processes. She also adds that the League has prepared a new booklet for the first-time voter telling them how to go about becoming a registered voter. It is available to individuals or community service groups by writing to the League of Women Voters of Port Washington-Manhasset at P.O. Box 305, Port Washington, NY 11050.

In the meantime, Mrs. Vogt is looking forward to her training session so she'll be well informed prior to what is expected to be a big voter turnout this presidential election year.