Your community needs you! By serving as a poll worker, you will ensure that the voting process runs smoothly on Election Day. It's an excellent opportunity to connect with your neighbors and play a vital role in the democratic process. Regular citizens who volunteer as poll workers are passionate about civic engagement and get firsthand participation in the inner workings of our electoral system.

PennFuture’s Managing Attorney for Litigation Jessica O’Neill shares her experience as an election worker for the past 8 years and PennFuture’s Advocacy Manager Michael Mehrazar shares his background as a poll worker trainer below.  

But first, please review the Pennsylvania poll worker criteria:

Q. Who can be a poll worker? 
There are a few requirements to becoming a poll worker in PA. 

• Generally, poll workers must be registered voters in their county. 
• Must not hold any public office, appointment or employment in the government.
• Must not be a candidate running for public office on the ballot in precinct (exceptions for Judge and Inspector of elections). 
• Must be completely non-partisan while serving in the precinct (not campaigning, handing out literature or wearing political items), and must work to keep the rest of the room where voting occurs a “campaign free zone.” The “campaign free zone” in the polling place is to ensure that voters are free to cast ballots without influence or intimidation. 
• You must be patient and a good listener for those showing up to cast a ballot. 

*Special skills like language interpretation or ASL fluency are critical to making the polls and voting as accessible as possible for all. 

Q. I am under 18 years old. Can I be a poll worker?
It varies by location. To check to see if your location accepts student poll workers, please enter your zip code here: https://powerthepolls.com/search 

Q. How do I apply to be a poll worker? 
You can submit your interest at this link: https://powerthepolls.com/cvpa&pf

Q. When is the deadline to apply to be a poll worker?
Most election administrators accept applications on a rolling basis. Once you submit your interest, your county or jurisdiction will reach out to you on dates for training. 

Q. Do I need to go through specific poll worker training?
Yes. Local jurisdictions can host both in-person and online training events ahead of Election Day and will fully prepare you for your shift. For example, in Pittsburgh, training typically lasts up to 2 hours for new poll workers. 

Q. What specific duties are available to poll workers?

The jobs will depend on the county. For example, in Allegheny County, you can be assigned as Judge of Election, Inspector, or Clerk of Election depending on your skill set.

Q. Will I get paid to be a poll worker? 
Many jurisdictions in PA provide compensation for poll workers on election day and for training. Compensation varies by jurisdiction and you can review by submitting your zip code here https://www.powerthepolls.org/search
For example, in Philadelphia, a poll worker who works the full day can receive $200 to $205 for Election Day, and $30 to $50 for training.

Q. When do polls open and close?
In Pennsylvania, the polls open at 7:00 am and close at 8:00 pm.

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I’M A POLL WORKER

Q. Why did you want to be a poll worker? 

In the 2016 general election, my polling place was overwhelmed with 3+ hour-long lines to vote. The neighborhood's population had changed, and many more voters would vote that year using antiquated voting machines and procedures. The few poll workers just couldn't keep up. They were doing their best, but it was just too much. 

I watched potential voters leave the lines because they were so long. I vowed to get involved to make sure that even if I couldn't fix the infrastructure problems, I could help use my skills to make things more efficient and secure and ensure no one would ever walk out of a polling line again.

Q. What was your poll worker training like? How long was your training?

In Philadelphia County, there is in-person and online training. I recommend doing both if you can (both are about a half hour long). Many of the other poll workers will have a lot of experience — talk to them to learn how everything works! Make sure that you show up an hour before voting begins so you can have time to get the polling place set up and get ready.

Q. On election day, when did you show up to your shift and how long did you work?

There are no shifts – get ready for a long day! I show up an hour before polls open, which is usually at 5:45 am. As the judge of elections, I am bringing some of the election materials from the county with me, and I want to be there first to be ready to greet my workers.  

There is a lot to do to set up the polling place, so we launch right into it. I appreciate having poll workers who are willing to just get straight to work even if they have never worked an election before. There are many set up tasks that anyone can do with a little direction!  

Polls open in Pennsylvania from 7 am to 8 pm. Anyone who is still in line at 8 pm can vote, and we do not start closing the polls until after 8 pm even if there is no one in line. I usually can excuse my poll workers by 9 pm, but if there is a line, then we are all there longer.  

As the judge of elections, I am responsible for the election materials. A police officer comes and picks up the ballots sometime after 8 pm, and I am responsible for bringing other election materials back to the board of elections after we are all closed up.  

Q. What did you wear?

Comfortable clothing is a must! Supportive footwear and layers, as the temperature will change a lot through the day depending on how many people are in line in the room! No shirts or other attire supporting a candidate is allowed. I always wear a pin that says “Vote!” and I have another poll worker with amazing “go vote!” socks.  

Q. Are you allowed to bring anything with you / should you bring something with you (ie. lunch, a book)?

You may get a break so it’s a good idea to bring a book or magazine. In Philadelphia, there are various organizations that try to make sure that meals are provided to poll workers throughout the day. It often ends up being a bunch of donuts in the morning and a pizza at dinner. Different counties might have different procedures on meals.

Q. How would you describe your poll worker job on election day? What were your specific tasks?

As the judge of elections, I manage the entire polling place. I ensure that the poll books are correct, that the machines are working, and that my poll workers understand and can do their jobs.  

I also make sure that election laws are followed — that folks distributing campaign literature stay the appropriate number of feet outside the polling place, that no voter is being harassed or intimidated, and that election watchers are permitted as provided by law and are following the rules.

Most importantly, though, my job is ensuring registered voters can cast their ballots! If they need to show ID, I make sure they understand why and help them meet the requirements under the law. If they are at the wrong polling place, I help them figure out what polling place they are supposed to be at and make sure they know where to find it. Suppose they aren’t permitted to vote on the voting machines (for example, they were issued a mail-in ballot or their name isn’t in the poll book). In that case, I make sure they understand why, give them the provisional ballot and the receipt, and follow the appropriate steps to get that provisional ballot in.  

My goal is for a registered, eligible voter coming into the polling place can walk out trusting the electoral system and be confident that their vote will be counted. 

Q. Did any problems occur that you helped to solve?

Countless! It’s what I do all day long.

Q. What did you like about your job as a poll worker? 

I like knowing my neighbors and knowing that they know me as a trustworthy person who helps them vote. My favorite moments throughout the day are when someone brings in their 18-year-old kid to vote for the first time: someone yells out, “First-time voter!” and all the poll workers cheer and applaud.  

I also have a voter in his 90s who never misses an election, and I get such a kick out of seeing him come in and cast his ballot. My work is a bright spot that makes me feel good about our democracy.

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I WAS A POLL WORKER TRAINER

Q. Why did you want to be a poll worker? 

Ever since childhood, I have been fascinated by the electoral process. I vividly remember my dad taking me into the polling booth when I was eight. This early experience sparked my interest, and it should be no surprise that I went on to study political science in college. 

Soon after graduating, I applied for and was fortunate to receive a job at the Anne Arundel County Board of Elections in Maryland. I was honored to secure a position so closely involved with the administration of our electoral system just after completing my studies. This experience helped me lead the way to future electoral and government work, including my role as Advocacy Manager at PennFuture today.

Q. What was your poll worker training like? How long was your training?

I was hired as a trainer to help train citizens interested in becoming Election Judges. Our training program consisted of an intensive two-week overview of all aspects of electoral laws and procedures in Maryland. This involved lectures, written components, and hands-on familiarity with the various election equipment.

After the initial training, we spent another two weeks manually reviewing the voting machines to catch any potential flaws or issues. (2014 was the last election in which Maryland used a touchscreen voting system rather than the more secure paper record voting system. More information here)
We would then spend the remaining time leading up to the election training citizens to become certified election judges. Following the election, we spent several weeks completing the necessary post-election work, including ballot counting, post-operation review, and other administrative tasks.

The training sessions we ran typically lasted around 2 hours. During these sessions, we would review the election judge manual, review the various judge roles (check-in judge, voter judge, provisional judge, and chief judge), and cover the opening procedures, during-the-day procedures, and closing procedures. We would also incorporate role-playing exercises to help prepare the judges.

Overall, I believe our judges were well-trained and equipped to handle their responsibilities on election day.

Q. Any question that you recommend new poll workers ask during training?

I suggest reading ahead of time to ensure you have a sense of the basic procedure during the training. Try to inquire about any potential edge cases or nuances that may arise on Election Day. I'd also recommend asking questions about the measures in place to secure the voting process, as many unfounded concerns are circulating about election integrity, and it would be great to know the accurate information to help mitigate those fears.

Q. On election day, when did you show up to your shift and how long did you work?

As a trainer, my role on election day was to observe multiple polling places and ensure proper procedures were followed. I was also on call in case any serious issues arose. My day began at 6:00 am and did not end until close to midnight, as I was responsible for processing all the materials, including the computer cards that held the votes.

For most polling workers, however, the day typically started about half an hour before the polls opened and ended about half an hour after the polls closed (roughly 6:30 am to 8:30 pm).

Q. What did you wear?

We had a uniform, which included a black polo and khakis. I don’t think most places have a specific dress code for election judges, but I’m not sure. Whatever you wear, make sure it’s comfortable — it’s a long day! 

Q. Are you allowed to bring anything with you / should you bring something with you (ie. lunch, a book)?

I believe you’re allowed to bring food. Books would be fine too, as long as they weren’t political in nature or in favor of any of the candidates. I would certainly ask your trainers. 

Q. How would you describe your poll worker job on election day? What were your specific tasks?

Back in 2014 in Maryland, there were four different poll worker roles: 

• Check-in Judges: These judges check voters' names against the registration list to verify they were at the correct polling location. They would also help direct voters to the appropriate polling place or inform them if they needed to cast a provisional ballot. 
• Voting Judges: These judges would guide voters to the voting machines and assist them with any questions or issues they encounter during the voting process. 
• Provisional Judges: These judges would staff the provisional ballot station, handling ballots for voters who faced eligibility issues that prevented them from casting a regular ballot. If the voter's eligibility was later confirmed within the allotted time frame (typically 10 days), their provisional ballot would be counted. 
• Chief Judges: The chief judges were responsible for managing the overall operations of the polling place. Typically, they are election day veterans, having run many elections before. They are required to be bipartisan, with one Democrat and one Republican serving together. On election night, the chief judges would also be tasked with delivering the voting equipment to the Board of Elections.

Q. Did any problems occur that you helped to solve?

Yes, there were various logistical issues, such as signs not being placed in the right locations, people campaigning too close to the polling places, and check-in computers needing to be fixed. No matter how much training is provided, things rarely go perfectly on election day. 

Q. What did you like about your job as a poll worker? 

Besides the camaraderie I had with my team, I found it fascinating to learn about the significant behind-the-scenes efforts that go into securing our elections. These efforts, often unnoticed by the general public, involve numerous security measures such as tamper-evident seals, serial number matching, locked bags, and the presence of bipartisan poll watchers. This learning experience has deepened my understanding of the integrity and fairness of our elections.

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Still interested in becoming a poll worker? Please submit your interest at this link: https://powerthepolls.com/cvpa&pf