SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — While voters across Onondaga County head to the polls on Tuesday, Steve Pirro is spending his time putting out fires.
Pirro has worked as a technician for the Onondaga County Board of Elections for four years. His job requires him to be on the move, making sure polling locations have what they need to operate.
“Typical election day itself, I have eight sites that I have to monitor. So first thing in the morning is usually a fire drill,” Pirro said.
Tuesday morning was no exception. Before the first ballots were cast, Pirro had already needed to find solutions.
“This morning we couldn’t get in here. It was supposed to be open at 5 o’clock, so I had to make phone calls in order to get somebody here to open it up,” Pirro said.
That wasn’t his only call of the morning. Pirro also dealt with printer issues, helped workers open voting equipment and prepared to respond to a problem with a check-in machine at another location.
The work makes for a long day. Pirro expects to spend about 17 hours on the job Tuesday, following another 10 to 12 hours of work the day before.
But his responsibilities go beyond the hours voters spend at polling places.
“Preparing for an election is a ton of work. There’s more that happens behind the scenes than people even realize,” Pirro said.
Before Election Day, ballots must be tested, equipment checked and machines assigned to the correct polling locations. Pirro and other technicians also visit polling sites the day before to prepare the equipment.
Once the early morning problems are resolved, Pirro focuses on monitoring his assigned locations throughout the day.
And while much of his work goes unnoticed by the people casting their ballots, Pirro recognizes what’s at stake.
“If we didn’t have the opportunity to vote, I think that somebody could run this country and you wouldn’t have any choice,” Pirro said.
Polls are open in New York state until 9 p.m. on Election Day.