Poll Worker FAQs

A poll worker is a temporary worker for the Shelby County Election Commission who works on Election Day.

There are four potential job assignments.

• Officer – The officer leads a precinct team and supports the other poll worker positions.
• Machine Operator – The Machine Operator assists voters at the voting machine.
• Registrar – The registrar operates the Electronic Poll Books and verifies voters before sending them to the voting machines.
• Paperwork Clerk – This registrar has had additional training and assists voters who needs to change their address or vote using a provisional ballot.

Each polling location is staffed according to need – we try to place poll workers in or near their home precinct. Poll workers are divided into political parties based on the party declaration on their application and/or primary voting history. An equal number of workers from each political party is assigned to each polling place.

Poll workers are paid $60 for a mandatory three hour training class and must work on Election Day to get paid for training.

Our office will call and ask about your availability, assign you to a polling location, and schedule you for a training class. You will then receive an appointment letter confirming your assignment.

Poll workers should dress in business casual clothing. Ripped or dirty clothing is not acceptable. No sweatpants, sweatshirts, flip-flops or blue jeans. Polling places can vary in temperature, so we recommend layers. Poll workers may not wear any clothing that supports or opposes a political party, candidate, or ballot question.

We recommend that you bring food and beverages for the entire day; once you are sworn in, you will not be allowed to leave the polling place.

The Officer will allow for breaks but the timing will depend upon the flow of voters.

Officers have additional responsibilities, so they are paid $390 plus $60 for training. Deputies are paid $340 plus $60 for training. All other positions pay $280 plus $60 for training.

Training is required under state law. Poll workers must attend training to be eligible to work. A person who does not attend training will be ineligible to work regardless of whether he/she has previously attended training.

It is recommended that all poll workers vote during the Early Voting period. Only poll workers who are assigned to their home precinct will be able to vote on Election Day.

If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will be rescheduled.

You may use your cell phone during your breaks and lunch time only. Cell phones should be turned off the rest of the time. An emergency number will be provided should someone need to contact you on Election Day.

You will receive a check in the mail approximately three weeks after the election.

The state requires party balance at all polling sites. We staff an equal number of Democratic and Republican poll workers at each site.

Residents of Shelby County who are 16 and 17 can work for an election and may be assigned to work at a polling site or turn-in location.

Only if you are a new resident and haven’t voted in a primary election. Otherwise, you must have voted in a primary election. 

The party affiliation you declare in the latest primary determines your party affiliation. Polling places have an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, so we need to know which party you’d be representing.

You must be able to stand on your feet for at least an hour or more and be able to lift 25 pounds. Have access to online training.

You must attend a mandatory 3-hour training class. Additionally, you must:

• Follow detailed instructions 
• Verify acceptable forms of voters’ IDs
• Look up and verify voters’ addresses using electronic equipment provided
• Set up voting machines in a timely manner
• Process a voter using a paper ballot or a machine
• Complete all paperwork required for reconciling the count of the machine votes

You will not be allowed to work on Election Day.

We hold training during the day, and on nights and weekends.