Poll Worker Qualifications
Poll Worker Qualifications
- Must be a qualified elector of this state
- Must be a resident of the precinct in which they serve at the time of their appointment unless the county board determines unanimously that it is impossible to obtain qualified Poll Workers from the precinct, in which case they may be qualified county residents
- Must not have been found guilty or pled guilty or nolo contendere to the violation of any election law of this state
- Must not be a paid employee of any political party
- Must not be a paid employee of any person running for office
- Must not be a candidate for any office to be filled at an election at which they shall serve
- Must not be married to or related within the second degree of consanguinity to any candidate running for office in the current election
Selection of Poll Workers
Each member of the Commission is entitled to make Poll Worker appointments based on several factors:
- Experience
- Availability
- Willingness to Serve
- Training
- Attendance
- Party Affiliation
Poll Worker Training
- Poll Workers are required to attend training within 12 months before the election that they have been appointed to work
- Notification of training will be sent with your letter of appointment
- Poll Workers will be compensated for attending any mandatory training. If a worker wishes to attend extra classes, no compensation should be expected.
Job Responsibilities of Poll Workers
The Pulaski County Board of Election Commissioners appoints Poll Workers for each election. All workers are Poll Workers, but separate duties are assigned by the Election Judge to facilitate the process. The “titles” assigned to workers allow for the designation of specific duties.
Election Judge
- Attends Training
- Sets up the polling location before the first day of early voting/election day (if possible)
- Assigns duties to the other Poll Workers
- Administers the oath of office to all other Poll Workers and witnesses the signatures of all Poll Workers on the oath form
- Makes sure workers are trained and know their responsibilities
- Resolves any voter issues
- Handles provisional ballots
- Locks the door at closing time and announces that the polls are closed
- Directs the securing of all materials so no further voting will occur after closing (for voters who are not in line at closing time)
- Responsible for all necessary forms being completed
- Early Voting Election Judges: Transports Election Materials to the Election Commission Office at the end of early voting.
- Election Day Election Judges: After closing of the polls, Transports Election Materials to the Area Headquarters and places them in the custody of the Area Coordinator.
Assistant Election Judge
- Attends Training
- Assists the Election Judge with the following duties:
- Sets up the polling location before the first day of early voting/election day (if possible)
- Assigns duties to the other Poll Workers
- Administers the oath of office to all other Poll Workers and witnesses the signatures of all Poll Workers on the oath form
- Makes sure workers are trained and know their responsibilities
- Resolves any voter issues
- Handles provisional ballots
- Locks the door at closing time and announces that the polls are closed
- Directs the securing of all materials so no further voting will occur after closing (for voters who are not in line at closing time)
- Responsible for all necessary forms being completed
- Early Voting Election Judges: Transports Election Materials to the Election Commission Office at the end of early voting.
- Election Day Election Judges: After closing of the polls, Transports Election Materials to the Area Headquarters and places them in the custody of the Area Coordinator.
Election Clerk (during early voting, this person checks voters in and issues a ballot card to the voter; on election day, this person checks in voters OR issues ballots)
- Attends training
- Reviews procedures in manual prior to early voting/election day
- Sets up their own area election morning following the instructions in the manual
- Authorizes voters to vote and/or issues ballots
- Maintains the List of Voters
Equipment Clerk
- Attends Training
- Reviews procedures on the DS200, ExpressVote and electronic poll book prior to Early Voting/Election Day
- Opens and closes voting devices and electronic poll books by following all procedures.
- Responsible for equipment operation and troubleshooting.
- Notifies the Election Judge of voting machine malfunctions.
Area Coordinator
- Attends Training
- Arranges pick up of the Election Day Materials with the Election Judges
- Delivers Election Day Materials to designated place the weekend before the election
- Provides basic assistance on the voting devices Election Day
- Visits polling locations at least once during Election Day (more often if necessary)
- Delivers supplies on Election Day to polling locations as needed
- Remains in their designated area and “on call” for the entire day
- Transports payroll sheets to each polling location for signatures of the Poll Workers
- Checks-in materials at Area Headquarters election night
- Transports election materials from headquarters to the Election Commission Office election night
Tab Worker
- Assists the Area Coordinator at Area Headquarters
- Assists Election Judges in collecting and checking-in election materials
- Assists in transporting materials from Area Headquarters to the Election Commission Office