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Home > Be a Poll Worker

Be a Poll Worker

Interested in working an election? Click here for more information or visit our Work With Elections page.

We Depend on our Poll Workers

Poll workers play a key role in Election Day tasks and make it possible for us to make the voting process a positive experience for our community. Poll workers may issue ballots, verify names and addresses, register voters, distribute “I Voted” stickers and assist voters.

Poll Worker Requirements

If you would like to become a poll worker in Ada County, you must meet the following requirements:

  •  Be a citizen of the United States
  •  Be at least 16 years old
  •  Attend mandatory training
  •  Ability to read and write in English
  •  Be able to lift 20 lbs.
  •  Ability to follow detailed instructions
  •  Remain politically neutral while serving at the polls
  • Election Day is a 14-hour+ day depending on the election. All poll workers must arrive at their assigned voting precinct by 7 a.m. and remain at the polling place until the ballots are completely counted, which is typically around 9 p.m.
  • Poll workers are NOT allowed to leave their polling place for any reason on Election Day. Bring everything you need for the day with you when you arrive.
  • Poll workers are responsible for bringing their own meals. Make sure you bring enough food to last you the entire day.
  • Elections are very important and even a small error can have significant consequences in the election process. We ask all poll workers to pay special attention to detail in their work.
  • Poll workers must remain politically neutral while working at the polling place.
  • Poll workers must provide their own transportation to their assigned polling place.
  • Poll workers are expected to help prepare the voting area by setting up tables and chairs.
  • Polling places can be busy during peak times. At times, there may even be lines to vote. This can sometimes cause stressful situations for our poll workers who have to deal with impatient voters.
  • Finally, we encourage each of our poll workers to request an absentee ballot to vote. You will NOT be allowed to leave your polling place to vote at another location on Election Day.

Online Training

Poll workers who have worked an election in the last year must take this training to measure their knowledge or they may attend an in-person training session. If you successfully complete the course, it counts as your mandatory pre-election training.

In-Person Training

If you are a returning Chief Judge or Assistant Chief Judge, you are required to take in-person training prior to an election. Click the link below to log into your poll worker portal and view the training schedule to sign up.

The sections below link to video training for each Election Day task.

Check-In Clerk E-poll Book set up banner
Issuing Clerk Touchwriter and Automark Table setup banner
First Voter overview banner
Spoiling a ballot banner
Issuing Clerk ballot accounting banner
Check-in Clerk station set up banner
Receiving Clerk Ballot Box and Bag setup banner
Registering a voter banner
E-pollbook Ballot Accounting banner
Closing the Touchwriter and Automark Table banner
Completing the Transfer Log banner
Issuing Clerk station set up banner
Scanner and Receiving Clerk station set up banner
Checking in a voter banner
Ada County Elections Putting away the E-pollbook banner
Packing up ballots and closing Receiving Clerk equipment banner

Please contact us with any training questions at (208) 287-6878.