Student Poll Worker Program
California Elections Code section 12302 allows eligible students to be appointed as poll workers on Election Day. As
poll workers, students learn first hand the importance of participating in the electoral
process. In addition, they provide much needed support at polling place locations.
In order to eligible to be appointed as a poll worker, a student must be:
- A United States citizen;
- At least 16 years of age at the time of the election in which he or she will be serving;
- A high school student with a grade point average of at least 2.5 (based on a 4.0 scale);
- A student in good standing, attending a public or private secondary educational institution.
In addition to gaining experience in the electoral process, students can also be paid
between $40 and $80 for service (each county sets its own pay scale, but stipends generally fall
within this range).
For more information, please contact your
county elections official.
State Employees
Government Code section 19844.7 allows state employees to take time off, without loss of pay, to serve
as poll workers on Election Day.
Regulations:
- Employee shall be eligible for both regular state compensation and the fee paid by the
Registrar of Voters for serving as a poll worker.
- Eligibility of a state employee to serve at the polls is subject
to approval by the employee's manager or supervisor.
- Employee seeking release time to work at the polls shall provide sufficient notice
to allow department to maintain adequate coverage and meet operational needs.
- Verification of service as a poll worker on Election Day may be required by the
appointing authority by requiring the employee to provide written verification of service
from the Registrar of Voters, including the name of the employee serving and the date of the
election.
Click here for a list of state agencies in your county.
For more information, please contact your
county elections official.
Poll Worker Training Information
Pursuant to California Elections Code section 12309.5, the Secretary of State was directed to appoint a task force "to study and recommend uniform guidelines for the training" of election poll workers.
The Task Force consisted of the chief elections officers of the two largest counties, the two smallest counties, and two other county elections officers selected by the Secretary of State. The Task Force included eight other members with elections expertise, including members of community-based organizations and citizens familiar with different ethnic, cultural, and disabled populations.
Recommendations of the Task Force 2005 (PDF | Word)
Poll Worker Training Guidelines 2006 (
