Many local election officials struggle to recruit the hundreds of thousands of poll workers needed nationwide on Election Day. Work Elections.org offers a solution to one of the main challenges to poll worker recruitment: a lack of accessible, centralized information for the general public.
This project seeks to improve election administration by broadening and diversifying the country’s pool of poll workers. In doing so, we hope to strengthen election infrastructure across the U.S. to keep pace with emerging technologies and the changing needs of an increasingly diverse electorate. Recruiting younger Americans as poll workers can help ensure that the adoption of new technology does not undermine the efficiency of casting a ballot and that there is a larger pool of bilingual poll workers to provide voters who are limited-English speakers with the assistance they need.
This portal collects poll worker requirements and applications for nearly every state (except Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington – states that conduct all-mail balloting and therefore don’t require many poll workers).
For jurisdictions that lack their own online application, the site directs prospective applicants to statewide applications, if available. If no application exists, the site enables visitors to submit an email to their local jurisdiction, indicating an interest in serving. Some small and sparsely-populated jurisdictions have little to no information available online. In those jurisdictions, potential applicants are instructed to contact the local election officials directly.
WorkElections.org, a nonpartisan, non-profit project of Fair Elections Center, collects and centralizes poll worker requirements and links to applications for thousands of jurisdictions across the country. The site provides simplified information for prospective poll workers who may not know where or how to apply.
Many election officials struggle to recruit sufficient numbers of poll workers with the technological and language skills necessary to staff polling places during early voting or on Election Day. Additionally, many people who would make great poll workers don’t know how to apply or what helping on Election Day entails. The website makes it easy for these individuals to find the information they need quickly and connects them directly with local election officials.
Many local and state election officials have helpful online resources for poll workers, but WorkElections compiles online information on thousands of jurisdictions and adds information such as hours, compensation, and other requirements that may not appear online. The website directly links to local or state application forms and information web pages. To ensure the information we offer is as accurate as possible, we have contacted thousands of election officials ourselves.
Please email us at info@fairelectionscenter.org.
WorkElections.org, a nonpartisan, non-profit project of Fair Elections Center, collects and centralizes poll worker requirements and links to applications for thousands of jurisdictions across the country. The site provides simplified information for prospective poll workers who may not know where or how to apply.
Many election officials struggle to recruit sufficient numbers of poll workers with the technological and language skills necessary to staff polling places during early voting or on Election Day. Additionally, many people who would make great poll workers don’t know how to apply or what helping on Election Day entails. The website makes it easy for these individuals to find the information they need quickly and connects them directly with local election officials.
Tasks may vary, but generally, poll workers prepare the polling place and voting machines, greet and check-in voters, issue ballots, ensure order in the lines, and assist voters as needed, among other tasks. Training is available (and often required) to prepare poll workers for their responsibilities.
Many local and state election officials have helpful online resources for poll workers, but WorkElections compiles online information on thousands of jurisdictions and adds information such as hours, compensation, and other requirements that may not appear online. The website directly links to local or state application forms and information web pages. To ensure the information we offer is as accurate as possible, we have contacted thousands of election officials ourselves.
If your local jurisdiction or state has an online application or a printable application, we include it on the site so that you can apply directly. If an application isn’t available, the site provides contact information for your local election officials so that you can call or email them to express interest in serving as a poll worker.
Please email us at info@fairelectionscenter.org.
Work Elections was developed in 2016 by Fair Elections Center, a national, nonpartisan, non-profit voting rights and election reform organization. In 2020, Work Elections’ data and API were used by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to help power its poll worker recruitment portal and by Power the Polls in its nationwide effort to expand poll worker recruitment in the face of the pandemic.
The project was initially supported with prototype funding from the Knight Foundation’s Knight Prototype Fund. Full implementation of the current site is largely supported by the Democracy Fund and the Center’s own general operating funds.
Fair Elections Center wishes to acknowledge the technical and research support of the following organizations: Development Seed and Democracy Works.
Have questions or need assistance? We’re here to help! Reach out to us through the form below, and our team will get back to you as soon as possible. Your feedback and inquiries are important to us!
Disclaimer: The site compiles the most up-to-date and accurate information directly from local election officials and/or their public information sites. This information is being provided as a public service and the sponsoring organization should not be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the information. Fair Elections Center is a non-profit and is not affiliated in any way with any governmental office or agency.
