Poll Workers

University and college students may use their student photo ID in conjunction with a fee payment receipt that contains the student’s residential address dated no earlier than nine months before the election.  University and college students may also use their student photo ID if the university or college has provided a certified list to the municipal clerk of students, containing the students’ residential addresses and indicating which students are U.S. citizens.

The progression is as follows:

Voter who possesses a WI driver license or WI DOT issued ID:

•    If it is current and valid (not revoked, suspended or expired)

o        Voter must provide the license number
o        If they cannot or won’t provide the number, they can register and vote provisionally

•    If driver license is revoked, suspended or expired 

o        Voter must provide the last 4 digits of their Social Security number (SS#)
o        They may also provide the number on their license or ID (optional)

Voter who does not possess a WI driver license

•    Voter must provide the last 4 digits of their SS#

o        If the voter cannot provide the last 4 digits of their SS#, they may not register or vote

Voter who possesses neither a WI driver license nor a state ID nor an SS#

•    Checks in the box indicating they have no WI driver license/state ID nor SS#

A high school student serving as an election inspector is appointed for a specific election, not a two year term. The student may be appointed for more than one election.

Wisconsin law requires every employer to grant an unpaid leave of absence to each employee who is appointed to serve as an election official, if the employee who serves as an election official provides his or her employer with at least seven days' notice.  The leave is for the entire 24-hour period of each election day in which the employee serves in his or her official capacity as an election official.   Upon request of any employer municipal clerks must verify appointments.

To be an election inspector (poll worker), a person must:

• Be a qualified elector of the county in which the polling place is established  (i.e., an adult citizen of the United States who has resided in the election district for 28 consecutive days and is not otherwise disqualified to vote);
• Be able to speak, read, and write fluently in the English language;
• Have strong clerical skills;
• Be able to solve problems;
• Be an effective communicator; and
• NOT be a candidate for any office to be voted on at the polling place at that election.

Municipal clerks are required by state law to provide training. This training provides all of the necessary information and knowledge to be a successful poll worker.  (Many municipalities require poll workers to attend a comprehensive training course prior to each Primary election.)  

An experienced chief inspector who has been certified by the State Elections Board must be present at each polling place for each election.   Chief inspectors must receive six hours of continuing election education training during each two-year period.

Election Inspectors (poll workers) conduct assigned duties at a polling site on Election Day.  Duties can include issuing ballots to registered voters, registering voters, monitoring the voting equipment, explaining how to mark the ballot or use the voting equipment or counting votes.

Anyone can remain at the polling place for purposes of observing the election.  They may not, however, interfere with the orderly conduct of the election.  A candidate must leave the polling place after voting to avoid the appearance of electioneering.

The chief inspector is in charge of keeping order at the polling place.  If a person is interfering with the orderly conduct of the election, the chief inspector may ask that person to leave the polling place.  If the person refuses, the inspectors may seek assistance from the municipal clerk.  If the municipal clerk cannot be contacted, or if the person refuses an order by the municipal clerk, law enforcement may be called.  3/24/2003