Poll Worker Information – San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters

Poll Worker Information

Poll Workers are an essential part of the successful creation of a positive experience for voters.

Poll Workers are community volunteers that support polling place operations throughout the county.

Citizens interested in serving as a Poll Worker are encouraged to complete a Poll Worker Application [pdf].

What is the Poll Worker Program?

Poll Workers are community volunteers that support polling place operations throughout the County.

As a Poll Worker, you will be providing a vital civic duty to ensure that the right to vote is preserved. It is also a great way to serve your community, get involved in the democratic process, and earn extra money!

Requirements:

To be eligible you must:

- Be at least 18 years of age and a registered voter in the State of California
- Read, write, and understand English
- Attend a mandatory 2-hour training session
- Work on Election Day from 6:00 a.m. until approximately 9:30 p.m.
- Have transportation to the polling place

Roles & Stipends:

There are three roles available:

- Clerk: $255
- Assistant Supervisor: $260
- Supervisor: $300
- Training:
  - Clerk Training: $30
  - Supervisor Training: $60
- Bilingual Pay: $20

Note: To be eligible to receive bilingual pay, poll workers must be fluent in English and one or more of the following languages: Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Malay, Nepali, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, or Vietnamese.

Duties:

The main duties are:

- Prepare, open, and close the polling place
- Distribute and receive official ballots for voters
- Assist voters in every aspect of the voting process

How does the County Employee Poll Worker Program differ?

The County Employee Poll Worker Program differs from the standard program, in terms of requirements and work time status.

Requirements:

To be eligible you must:

- Be a County employee, including but not limited to a regular employee, Public Service Employee (PSE), extra-help or recurrent employee, or contract employee
- Be in good standing with your supervisor
- Be at least 18 years of age or older by Election Day
- Submit a completed County Employee Poll Worker Application for each election
- Read, write, and understand English
- Attend mandatory training sessions
- Have transportation to the polling place

Employee Work Time:

County employees are not required to (and should not) use vacation time to attend training or to work at the polls.
County employees will receive their regular county pay, which may include overtime and mileage per the employee’s MOU and applicable ordinances, policies, and procedures.
County employees will code all election hours in EMACS using the TRC ‘POLLS’ and will not receive a separate stipend payment for completing Election Day assignments.

County Employees interested in serving as a poll worker are encouraged to complete the County Employee Poll Worker Application [pdf].

How does the Student Poll Worker Program differ?

Working as a High School Student Poll Worker is a great opportunity to learn about the democratic process while serving your community and earning money. The Student Poll Worker Program differs in three ways from the normal program, in terms of requirements, available roles, and how to apply.

Requirements:

To be eligible the student must be:

- A high school student at least 16 years of age
- In good academic standing
- Able to read, write and understand English
- Work on Election Day from 6 a.m. until approximately 9:30 p.m.
- Attend a mandatory 2-hour training session, held on the campus
- Have transportation to the polling place

Role & Stipend:

Student Poll Workers will be assigned to the position of Clerk or Technical Clerk earning $285 for Election Day and their 2 hour training class.

Benefits to the Student:

Students are given the opportunity for hands-on experience in learning how elections are conducted and gain a lifelong appreciation for the democratic process.
Students receive training on how to provide services to voters at the polls for their specific role; this experience in the poll can help with future work experience.
The presence of students inspires other pupils to pre-register and vote when they reach 18 years of age and/or become Poll Workers in the future.
Students show their community the support of the next generation of voters and at the same time meet new people.

How to Apply:

Contact your Student Poll Worker Program Coordinator for more information. If your school does not participate in our program, contact our office and ask your principal to contact us as well.

What does Poll Worker Training involve?

All Poll Workers must complete a 2-hour mandatory basic training class. The training class includes hands-on simulation where participants practice scenarios they may encounter at a polling place on Election Day. Trainings will be held at several locations throughout San Bernardino County.

Poll Workers must be scheduled in order to attend a training class. Walk-ins are accepted for Basic Training, but it is best to enroll to ensure attendance will be available.

During training, evaluations of trainees will be conducted to identify workers who meet the minimum requirements for working on Election Day. Performance evaluations will be conducted to identify a potential worker’s strengths. These evaluations are used to place Poll Workers in the proper role on Election Day, or to give the worker the opportunity to attend advanced training.

View the Class Schedule for the 2-hour mandatory Basic Poll Worker Training.