District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics

• What hours will I work?
• Where will I work?
• Do I need training?
• How much will I be paid?
• How do I sign up to become a pollworker?

On the Monday prior to Election Day, all workers will meet at their assigned polling place to receive their supplies and set-up their work stations; this usually takes 2 to 3 hours. The exact time will be coordinated by the Precinct Captain and communicated to each worker approximately one week before the election.

Polling place team members will normally work on Election Day from 6:00 am until approximately 9:00 pm or until released by the Precinct Captain. This allows one hour at the start of the day to ensure that everything is ready for the polls to open at 7:00 am and one hour at the end of the day for sealing ballot boxes, disassembling the voting booths and completing the required forms after the polls close at 8:00 pm.

Early Voting workers will be assigned to work early and late shifts.

Polling places are located throughout the city in public and private schools, libraries, recreation centers and churches. You will be assigned to a site near your home, if possible.

Due to new voting equipment and procedures for the 2010 election, all pollworkers must attend two training classes. The first session may be taken either online or in person during the month of July. Beginning in August, applications will be accepted and orientation classes held on a space-available basis.

Once you complete orientation, you must attend a second training class during the month of August to receive your certification to work at the polls. Both training sessions are required for all Election Workers, regardless of whether you have served in the past. Training will be held in October for the November General election.

Early Voting workers must attend pollworker training as well as separate training for Early Voting workers.

Election Workers must attend all required training and serve the entire day at the polls on Election Day to receive a stipend. At the present time, the scheduled flat rates of compensation for Election Day workers are:

• Captain $160.00 covering attendance at three training sessions, meeting the supply delivery truck, polling place set-up, and Election Day.
• Captain Trainee/Precinct Technician $140.00 covering attendance at three training sessions, polling place set-up, overseeing the use of technology at the polls on Election Day and assisting with other duties at the discretion of the Captain. Precinct Technicians who are also certified as a Captain Trainee may be called upon to serve as a replacement Captain, if needed.
• Special Ballot Clerk $140 covering attendance at two training sessions and the management of the special ballot and same-day registration process, including verifying prior registration through the use of a laptop computer and documenting proof of residence for same-day registrations.
• Other Team Members $120.00 covering attendance at two training sessions, polling place set-up, and Election Day.

Early voting workers will be paid an hourly rate of $15 per hour.

To become a pollworker, complete the online application and contact pollworker@dcboee.org to schedule an orientation training class. Beginning in August, applications will be accepted and orientation classes held on a space-available basis.

Note: While performing their official duties at the polls, Election Day Workers may not engage in political activity or campaign for or against any candidate or measure on the ballot.