ARDMORE, Okla. (KTEN)  — The need for poll workers has grown over the years, and it's become a focus for the Carter County Election Board ahead of of the November 8 midterm election.

"It's getting more difficult every year to try to find someone that is willing to work 13 hours without leaving," said election board secretary Diane Hall.

The State of Oklahoma requires at least three workers per polling location, with larger precincts needing four. The process of getting workers prepared is more extensive than assigning a place and monitoring ballots.

"We go through a three-and-a-half hour training just to get workers familiar with what's going to happen during that day, and we go over the rules and regulations," Hall said.

The training is required by the state and is performed every two years, with the most recent session completed in June before the primary election.

Marie Martin, a former poll worker in Texoma for nearly 15 years, found working the polls was easier once the state purchased eScan A/T voting devices to count ballots in 2012.

But even with updated tech, the role of the workers remains crucial.

"You have to have poll workers that you can depend on," Martin said. "You have to have honesty, integrity, and all those things to help this country be what we want it to be."

The need for poll workers will still be emphasized as November 8 approaches to ensure a smooth midterm election.