Poll Worker Qualifications

To be a poll worker, a person must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Be 18 years old (except high school student poll workers)
  • Be able to read and write fluently in the English language
  • NOT be a candidate for any office to be voted on at the polling place at that election
  • Be a qualified elector of the county where the polling place is located. Please note Chief Inspectors must be a qualified elector of the municipality where the polling place is located (except for Polling Place Helpers).

A poll worker may also:

  • Have strong clerical skills
  • Be able to solve problems
  • Be an effective communicator.

Poll workers are appointed to two-year terms so you will be asked to make a minimum two-year commitment.   

Polling worker shifts can be between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Poll workers can work a full day, generally from 6:30 a.m. until approximately 9:00 p.m. or later in the case of November elections.  In many municipalities, election inspectors can work a split shift.