"Our democracy works best when everyone participates," says Representative Jim Clyburn (K. Adams, The State, "Clyburn Pushes for Election Worker Protection", Jan 2024). Here's your state-by-state breakdown of how to get involved. Poll workers are democracy's frontline defenders. When qualified citizens staff polling places, it prevents potential manipulation, ensures fair treatment of all voters, and maintains election integrity. Your presence helps counter voter intimidation and ensures proper procedures are followed. You become a trusted witness to the democratic process, able to spot and report irregularities while helping legitimate voters exercise their rights. Additionally, many polling places face worker shortages, so stepping up helps keep voting accessible to all - preventing the kind of limited polling locations that can effectively disenfranchise communities.
Alabama
Apply: County Board of Registrars
Requirements: 18+, registered AL voter
Pay: $150/day average
Link: Alabama Polls
Contact: (334) 242-7210
Alaska
Apply: Division of Elections
Requirements: 18+, registered AK voter
Pay: $200/day + training pay
Link: Alaska Polls
Contact: (907) 465-4611
Arizona
Apply: County Recorder's Office
Requirements: 18+, registered AZ voter
Pay: Varies by county ($135-200/day)
Link: Arizona Polls
Contact: Your county recorder
Arkansas
Apply: County Election Commission
Requirements: 18+, registered AR voter
Pay: $100-150/day
Link: Arkansas Poll Workers
Contact: Your county election commission
California
Apply: County Elections Office
Requirements: 18+ or 16+ student
Pay: $180-250/day (county dependent)
Link: California Polls
Contact: (800) 345-VOTE
Colorado
Apply: County Clerk's Office
Requirements: 18+, registered CO voter
Pay: $150-200/day
Link: Colorado Polls
Contact: Your county clerk
Connecticut
Apply: Registrar of Voters
Requirements: 16+, CT resident
Pay: $165-220/day
Link: Connecticut Polls
Contact: Your town registrar
Delaware
Apply: Department of Elections
Requirements: 18+, registered DE voter
Pay: $150/day
Link: Delaware Polls
Contact: (302) 739-4277
Florida
Apply: Supervisor of Elections
Requirements: 18+, registered FL voter
Pay: $180-275/day
Link: Florida Polls
Contact: Your county supervisor
Georgia
Apply: County Elections Office
Requirements: 16+, GA resident
Pay: $140-250/day
Link: Georgia Polls
Contact: Your county elections office
Hawaii
Apply: Office of Elections
Requirements: 16+, HI resident
Pay: $175/day
Link: Hawaii Polls
Contact: (808) 453-VOTE
Idaho
Apply: County Clerk
Requirements: 18+, registered ID voter
Pay: $100-175/day
Link: Idaho Polls
Contact: Your county clerk
Illinois
Apply: County Clerk/Board of Elections
Requirements: 18+, registered IL voter
Pay: $150-200/day
Link: Illinois Polls
Contact: Your county clerk
Indiana
Apply: County Election Board
Requirements: 18+, registered IN voter
Pay: $135-150/day
Link: Indiana Polls
Contact: Your county election board
Iowa
Apply: County Auditor
Requirements: 17+, registered IA voter
Pay: $150-200/day
Link: Iowa Polls
Contact: Your county auditor
Kansas
Apply: County Election Office
Requirements: 18+, registered KS voter
Pay: $110-175/day
Link: Kansas Polls
Contact: Your county election office
Kentucky
Apply: County Clerk
Requirements: 18+, registered KY voter
Pay: $140-175/day
Link: Kentucky Polls
Contact: Your county clerk
Louisiana
Apply: Parish Clerk of Court
Requirements: 18+, registered LA voter
Pay: $200/day
Link: Louisiana Polls
Contact: Your parish clerk
Maine
Apply: Municipal Clerk
Requirements: 18+, registered ME voter
Pay: $125-175/day
Link: Maine Polls
Contact: Your municipal clerk
Maryland
Apply: Board of Elections
Requirements: 16+, registered MD voter
Pay: $165-225/day
Link: Maryland Polls
Contact: (800) 222-8683
Massachusetts
Apply: City/Town Clerk
Requirements: 18+, registered MA voter
Pay: $165-250/day
Link: Massachusetts Polls
Contact: Your city/town clerk
Michigan
Apply: City/Township Clerk
Requirements: 16+, MI resident
Pay: $150-200/day
Link: Michigan Polls
Contact: Your local clerk
Minnesota
Apply: County Elections Office
Requirements: 18+, eligible MN voter
Pay: $150-225/day
Link: Minnesota Polls
Contact: Your county elections office
Mississippi
Apply: Circuit Clerk's Office
Requirements: 18+, registered MS voter
Pay: $125-150/day
Link: Mississippi Polls
Contact: Your circuit clerk
Missouri
Apply: Local Election Authority
Requirements: 18+, registered MO voter
Pay: $125-175/day
Link: Missouri Polls
Contact: Your local election authority
Montana
Apply: County Election Office
Requirements: 18+, registered MT voter
Pay: $135-200/day
Link: Montana Polls
Contact: Your county election office
Nebraska
Apply: County Election Commissioner
Requirements: 18+, registered NE voter
Pay: $120-175/day
Link: Nebraska Polls
Contact: Your county election commissioner
Nevada
Apply: County Clerk/Registrar
Requirements: 18+, registered NV voter
Pay: $150-225/day
Link: Nevada Polls
Contact: Your county clerk
New Hampshire
Apply: Town/City Clerk
Requirements: 18+, registered NH voter
Pay: $135-200/day
Link: New Hampshire Polls
Contact: Your town/city clerk
New Jersey
Apply: County Board of Elections
Requirements: 18+, registered NJ voter
Pay: $300/day
Link: New Jersey Polls
Contact: Your county board
New Mexico
Apply: County Clerk
Requirements: 18+, registered NM voter
Pay: $150-200/day
Link: New Mexico Polls
Contact: Your county clerk
New York
Apply: County Board of Elections
Requirements: 18+, registered NY voter
Pay: $200-300/day
Link: New York Polls
Contact: Your county board
North Carolina
Apply: County Board of Elections
Requirements: 18+, registered NC voter
Pay: $165-200/day
Link: North Carolina Polls
Contact: Your county board
North Dakota
Apply: County Auditor
Requirements: 18+, qualified ND voter
Pay: $145-200/day
Link: North Dakota Polls
Contact: Your county auditor
Ohio
Apply: County Board of Elections
Requirements: 17+, registered OH voter
Pay: $150-200/day
Link: Ohio Polls
Contact: Your county board
Oklahoma
Apply: County Election Board
Requirements: 18+, registered OK voter
Pay: $100-150/day
Link: Oklahoma Polls
Contact: Your county election board
Oregon
Apply: County Elections Office
Requirements: 16+, OR resident
Pay: $150-200/day
Link: Oregon Polls
Contact: Your county elections office
Pennsylvania
Apply: County Elections Office
Requirements: 18+, registered PA voter
Pay: $150-200/day
Link: Pennsylvania Polls
Contact: Your county elections office
Rhode Island
Apply: Board of Elections
Requirements: 18+, registered RI voter
Pay: $150-200/day
Link: Rhode Island Polls
Contact: (401) 222-2345
South Carolina
Apply: County Elections Office
Requirements: 18+, registered SC voter
Pay: $135-165/day
Link: South Carolina Polls
Contact: Your county elections office
South Dakota
Apply: County Auditor
Requirements: 18+, registered SD voter
Pay: $125-175/day
Link: South Dakota Polls
Contact: Your county auditor
Tennessee
Apply: County Election Commission
Requirements: 18+, registered TN voter
Pay: $125-175/day
Link: Tennessee Polls
Contact: Your county election commission
Texas
Apply: County Elections Administrator
Requirements: 18+, registered TX voter
Pay: $150-225/day
Link: Texas Polls
Contact: Your county elections office
Utah
Apply: County Clerk
Requirements: 16+, UT resident
Pay: $150-200/day
Link: Utah Polls
Contact: Your county clerk
Vermont
Apply: Town/City Clerk
Requirements: 18+, registered VT voter
Pay: $125-175/day
Link: Vermont Polls
Contact: Your town/city clerk
Virginia
Apply: Electoral Board
Requirements: 18+, registered VA voter
Pay: $150-200/day
Link: Virginia Polls
Contact: Your local electoral board
Washington
Apply: County Elections Department
Requirements: 16+, WA resident
Pay: $150-225/day
Link: Washington Polls
Contact: Your county elections department
West Virginia
Apply: County Clerk
Requirements: 18+, registered WV voter
Pay: $125-175/day
Link: West Virginia Polls
Contact: Your county clerk
Wisconsin
Apply: Municipal Clerk
Requirements: 18+, qualified WI voter
Pay: $135-200/day
Link: Wisconsin Polls
Contact: Your municipal clerk
Wyoming
Apply: County Clerk
Requirements: 18+, registered WY voter
Pay: $125-175/day
Link: Wyoming Polls
Contact: Your county clerk