As of March 26, 2020, on April 7, 2020, the Presidential Primary and Spring Election will proceed. Be aware that due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Governor Ever’s “Safer at Home” Order that municipal clerks may have difficulty with staffing the April 2020 Election. The Election Worker Basics training recording and these materials will assist local governments with finding and training election workers. Though unlikely, a postponement of the April 2020 Election is possible due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, so check the Wisconsin Election Commission’s website for any updates.
I’m Interested! How Do I Become a Poll Worker?
Find your NAME OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT clerk at https://myvote.wi.gov/en-US/MyMunicipalClerk. Click on their email address, and put “Poll Worker Applicant” in the subject line. In the email, express your interest in becoming a poll worker for the April 7, 2020 election and include your contact information.
Am I Qualified?
To be a poll worker, a person must:
- Be an adult U.S. citizen who has lived in the county for ten consecutive days and is qualified to vote;
- Be fluent in the English language; and
- Not be a candidate for any office to be voted on at the polling place in that election.
What Do Poll Workers Do?
Poll workers do everything from checking in voters, help people register to vote, check photo IDs, and process absentee ballots. You will get training before election day for the job you are doing.
Hours of Work
Polling places are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Poll workers work a full day, generally from 6:30 am until approximately 9:00 pm.
Do Poll Workers Get Paid?
Yes. Local governments pay their Poll workers. However, the amount varies by municipality, so ask the clerk.
Where Can I Get More Info?
Check out MyVote.wi.gov for more information about elections in Wisconsin.
Election Worker Training
- You can use these materials and the ZOOM recording to train new election workers online. Go to https://localgovernment.extension.wisc.edu/ to download the training. After the training, election workers complete the short training evaluation, and will receive a certificate of completion.
- The Wisconsin Elections Commission also has many training resources available at https://elections.wi.gov/index.php/clerks/education-training .
