How to become a poll worker

Most counties in Florida are recruiting poll workers for the upcoming elections.

Poll workers play a vital role in ensuring elections run smoothly, from setting up polling places to assisting voters on Election Day. If you’re interested in contributing to your community and want to learn how to become a poll worker in Florida in 2024, this guide outlines the essential steps.

RELATED: A step-by-step guide on how to register to vote in 2024

Understand the role of a poll worker

Poll workers play an important role in elections, as they have some key duties. Some of their tasks include:

• Setting up polling stations: Arriving early to prepare the voting area, setting up machines, and organizing materials.
• Assisting voters: Helping voters with the check-in process, explaining how to use voting equipment, and answering any questions.
• Monitoring the voting process: Ensuring that voting is conducted in accordance with Florida’s election laws, including handling any issues that arise.
• Closing the polls: Properly shutting down voting equipment, securing ballots, and ensuring all materials are accounted for at the end of the day.

These are paid positions, however pay varies by location and position.

Poll workers must remain non-partisan while performing their duties and follow all rules and guidelines established by the Florida Division of Elections.

Requirements to be a poll worker:

To become a poll worker in Florida, you must meet several basic requirements:

• Residency: You must be a registered voter in the county where you wish to work as a poll worker.
• Age: Poll workers must be at least 18 years old. However, some counties offer student poll worker programs for 16- and 17-year-olds.
• Mandatory training: Attend a mandatory training class before each election (minimum of three hours).
• Work shift: Be available to work a minimum of 14 hours on Election Day.
• Duties: Perform all duties for your position as assigned.
• Bilingual skills: While not required, being bilingual, particularly in English and Spanish, is highly valued and can increase your chances of being selected.

Poll workers cannot be candidates on the ballot, nor can they be the immediate family members of a candidate.

Where will I be assigned to work?

While the Supervisor of Elections aims to assign you to a location near your home precinct, you should be prepared to travel to other polling sites if needed.

Applying to become a poll worker

The application process to become a poll worker in Florida is straightforward:

• Contact your county Supervisor of Elections: Each county in Florida manages its poll worker program. You can apply online through your county’s Supervisor of Elections website or by visiting their office in person.
• Complete the Application: The application will ask for basic information, including your contact details, availability, and any relevant experience or skills. Each county has its own application.
• Attend an Interview (if required): Some counties may require an interview to assess your suitability for the role.

Mandatory training

Once your application is approved, you will be required to attend mandatory training sessions. Training is typically conducted a few weeks before the election.

Some of the topics covered are election laws, equipment operation, and emergency procedures.

All Voting is Local and the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law published guides recently. 

The guides provide voters, voter protection groups, election workers, and election officials with information on the various laws that prevent baseless challenges to voters’ eligibility. They outline the federal and state laws that restrict how challenges can be made, who can make them, and the evidence required, among other limitations.  

RELATED: Early voting in Florida: Where, when, and how to vote

You can check Florida’s guide here.

Are you ready to vote? Make sure to check your voter registration status, see who’s on your ballot, and make a voting plan here.