Ohio Accountants Can Work at Polls for Continuing Education Credit

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In an effort to recruit poll workers for the Nov. 3 general election, the Accountancy Board of Ohio will allow certified public accountants to obtain continuing education credits if they serve on Election Day.

“Our biggest challenge right now is finding 35,000 Ohioans to serve as poll workers on election day,” said Secretary of State Frank LaRose in a statement. “I’m glad that the Accountancy Board stepped up and incentivized Ohio CPAs to help defend democracy as poll workers. These trusted and skilled professionals will offer an important public service and learn more about how Ohio administers honest elections at the same time.”

The Accountancy Board is offering 4.8 hours of general continuing education credit for CPAs serving as poll workers.

“While this is much more community service than learning, there are aspects to the role that involve a CPA’s expertise [such as] ensuring independence, fairness, accuracy of a government process,” said John Patterson, executive director of the Accountancy Board of Ohio.

The move follows a similar step taken recently in regards to Ohio lawyers. In that field, the Ohio Supreme Court made the decision to allow attorney to count poll work as continuing legal education.

Accountants or lawyers who want to sign up to serve as poll workers on Election Day can register at VoteOhio.gov/defenddemocracy.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.