The intense interest in the 2008 presidential election could generate a record turnout in November. As many as 90 percent of eligible voters may show up at the polls in some Georgia precincts, experts predict. Election officials need to do everything possible to assure the massive turnout will be handled smoothly.

That's why it's encouraging to see young, techno-savvy people —- including high school and college students —- being recruited by metro Atlanta election officials to work at the polls. To help even more, corporate officials should consider allowing their workers to take a paid-leave day for working at the polls, the way employers have traditionally allowed time off for jury duty.

The long lines many Georgians were confronted with when they went to vote during the presidential preference primary in February were frustrating but entirely predictable. For years, election officials have relied heavily on senior citizens and retirees to volunteer for 12- to 14-hour shifts at the polls. The pay was low —- or, in some cases, nonexistent —- but to their credit, seniors were willing to donate their time.

However, since Georgia switched to touch-screen voting and equipped precincts with laptop computers connected to voter-registration rolls, poll work has become more demanding.

Fulton County voter education coordinator Mark Henderson said many of the long lines in the state's largest county in February resulted from poll worker errors with voting machines and the computer database.

Elsewhere, the delays resulted from simply not having enough workers.

Cobb County —- where the turnout in the 2004 presidential election reached 83 percent —- is seeking at least 175 workers for November to add to the 2,500 who are already signed up. Fulton wants up to 250 more.

Many counties have increased the pay in recent years for poll workers, with Fulton paying $275 for a full-day's work. (Most pay about $100 to $150.) Election officials are actively recruiting at high schools and colleges in recent months, with Fulton handing out nearly 800 applications. (State law allows poll workers as young as 16.) In some cases, high schools and colleges give them credit for the work, but many of the students just want the experience.

Still, its important to expand the pool of workers even more —- enough to break up the long day and to help get the results tabulated as quickly as possible after voting ends. That's why companies should consider allowing employees time off not just to vote, but to work at the polls.

Large companies with big information technology departments could coordinate with local election officials to use some of their IT employees. County government and public school employees in IT positions and others familiar with database work could also be assigned to the election office on voting days —- a practice already employed in some Georgia counties.

The goal should be to make the voting experience as easy and painless as possible. A 90 percent turnout at the polls should be a cause for celebration, not an endurance contest that leaves voters wondering if it was worth the effort.

—- Mike King, for the editorial board (mking@ajc.com)