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Working at the polls |
An opportunity to serve your community and earn some money!
The Department needs about 2,800 registered voters to work in polling places for the 2012 Primary and General Elections. There are also opportunities to work during school elections.
You can serve your community and participate in the electoral process!
Delaware lets 16 and 17 year-old high school work as Election Officers. Get information on our Student Poll Worker Page, call Cara Carter at 577-5069 or email her.
Join the Election Officer Team by filling out and
sending an Election Officer Application
to the Department or calling (302) 577.3464.
Qualifications
- Resident of New Castle County.
- Registered to vote in the State of Delaware, or a high school student who is 16 or 17.
- Complete 2 or 3 hours of training before every election.
Election Officer Pay: Primary & General Elections
- Inspector: $ 235
- Judges: $ 195
- Clerks: $ 190
Election Officer Pay: School Elections
- Inspector: $ 200
- Judges: $ 175
- Clerks: $ 175
Hours: Primary & General Elections
- Arrive at 6 a.m. in order to open the polls at 7 a.m.
- The polls close at 8 p.m., but Election Officers stay until the work is done. Usually about 9:30 p.m.
- Election Officers work all day, there are no split shifts.
Hours: School Elections
- Arrive at 9 a.m. in order to open the polls at 10 a.m.
- The polls close at 8 p.m., but Election Officers stay until the work is done. Usually about 9:00 p.m.
- Election Officers work all day, there are no split shifts.
Responsibilities: Inspector
- Attend training before each election to learn polling site and voting machine procedures.
- Visit the polling place before Election Day.
- Pick up needed materials not shipped in a voting machine from the Department's warehouse before Election Day.
- Read the Election Officer Manual and other materials given to you at training or that were sent to you.
- Call the Election Officers working with you to confirm that they are working, coordinate meals, etc.
- Notify the Elections Unit of any problems.
- Take your manuals, signs, supplies, meals, snacks and beverages to the polling place.
- Arrive at the polling place on time and with a positive attitude.
- Open the polling place and set-up the voting machines.
- Direct the other Election Officers to set-up the polling place and install signs.
- Open the polls to voters at the scheduled time.
- Supervise/manage the processing of voters.
- Willingly, in a friendly and professional manner, assist voters who ask for or need it.
- Coordinate with the Department of Elections as needed.
- With the Judges, decide issues and voter registration problems.
- Close the polls. Close the doors to the polling place at the official closing time, but let voters in line at the official closing time to vote.
- Close the voting machines and send the Memory Cartridge Envelope to the right Zone Reporting Station.
- Return election supplies to a designated drop-off point immediately after closing the polling place and releasing the remaining Election Officers.
Responsibilities: Judges
- Attend training before each election to learn polling site and voting machine procedures.
- Read the Election Officer Manual, other materials you got at training or that were sent to you.
- Take your manuals, signs, supplies, meals, snacks and beverages to the polling place.
- Arrive at the polling place on time and with a positive attitude.
- Help the Inspector set-up the voting machines and polling place.
- Process of voters and/or operate a voting machine.
- Help voters who ask for or need it.
- Help the Inspector decide issues and voter registration problems.
- Work at the Update Table.
- Help close the polls, close the voting machines and pack-up election supplies.
- Other duties assigned by the Inspector.
Responsibilities: Clerks
- Attend training before each election to learn polling site and voting machine procedures.
- Read the Election Officer Manual, other materials you got at training or that were sent to you.
- Take your manuals, signs, supplies, meals, snacks and beverages to the polling place.
- Arrive at the polling place on time and with a positive attitude.
- Help the Inspector set-up the voting machines and polling place.
- Process voters and/or operate a voting machine.
- Help voters who ask for or need it.
- Work at the Update Table.
- Help close the polls, close the voting machines and pack-up election supplies.
- If asked, take the Memory Cartridge Envelope to the right Zone Reporting Station.
- Other duties assigned by the Inspector.
