Poll Workers Get Significant Raises; What Do They Do?

Poll workers will receive a raise in their stipends, from as little as 57.9% to as high as 70.2%. (Photo by SDI Productions/iStock Getty Images)

The Board of Elections announced in its monthly meeting Monday afternoon that poll workers are getting a raise.

Inspectors, judges and clerks – referred to as election officers – will all see a significant spike to their pay.

The raises comes a couple weeks after Judge Mark Conner of the Delaware Superior Court ruled in favor of former state attorney general Jane Brady’s suit that states laws passed by the General Assembly regarding absentee and mail-in ballots were not constitutional.

The Department of Justice and Attorney General Kathy Jennings days later announced it will appeal the ruling, vows support for constitutional amendment.

Those that are inspectors will have their stipend raise from $235 to $400, judges will raise from $195 to $325 and clerks will go from $190 to $300.

Here are the duties for each.

Inspector

The inspector is the person in charge of the polling place on election day.

They are responsible to:

Visit the polling place before election day.
Pick up any needed materials indicated on the Inspector Memo and supplemental instructions at the time and place in the instructions given to them.
Call the election officers working with them to confirm that they are working, coordinate meals, etc.
Notify the Department of Elections of any problems.
Supervise and assist as necessary setting up the polling place, setting up the poll books and voting machines, installing signs, and opening the polling place to voters at the scheduled time.
Supervise/manage the processing of voters.
Coordinate with the Department of Elections as needed.
With the Judges, decide challenges and other issues.
Supervise closing the polls at the scheduled time; and closing the doors to the polling place at the scheduled time, but letting voters in line at the scheduled time vote.
Supervise closing the voting machines, and dispatching a clerk with the Election USB Pouch containing the election machine USBs from each voting machine to the assigned zone reporting station.
Return election supplies to a designated drop-off point immediately after closing the polling place and releasing the remaining election officers.

Judges

There are two judges at a polling place on election day.

They are responsible to:

With the inspector, decide challenges and other issues.
Other duties assigned by the inspector.
If the Inspector leaves a message for them before an election, promptly call him/her back.

Clerks

The number of clerks depends on the number of voting machines assigned to the polling place.

Clerks are responsible to:

If asked, take the Election USB Pouch to the assigned zone reporting station.
Other duties assigned by the inspector.
If the inspector leaves a message for you before an election, promptly call him/her back.

But, everyone working at a polling place on election day, regardless of position, must:

Attend training before each election to learn polling site and voting machine procedures.
Read the Election Officer Manual and other materials received at training and/or that were sent.
Take manuals, signs, supplies, meals, snacks and beverages to the polling place.
Arrive at the polling place on time and with a positive attitude.
Help open the polling place and set-up poll books and voting machines.
Open the polls to voters at the scheduled time.
Willingly, in a friendly and professional manner, assist voters who ask for or need it.
Process voters and/or operate a voting machine.
Work at the help desk.
Help close the polls. Close the doors to the polling place at the official closing time, but let voters in line at the official closing time to vote.
Help pack election supplies.

To apply to work at a polling place, fill out this application.

Not yet of voting age? No problem.

Those that are not yet 18 years old can have their parent or guardian also sign the application.

Also, college students in Delaware may work at a polling place in the county where they are attending college, even if they are not registered to vote in Delaware.

Poll workers arrive at 6 a.m. in order to open the polls at 7 a.m., and while the polls close at 8 p.m., workers stay until the work is done, which is usually about 9:30 p.m.

The three different election officers work all day. There are no split shifts, and they cannot leave the polling place at any time while the polls are open.

The Department of Elections states that “The success or failure of any election depends on the Election Officers who serve in polling places on Election Day. They must be aware of Federal and State election laws, and the importance of providing non-partisan customer service as part of a team of fellow citizens. Training is vital. We take it very seriously and expect our Election Officers to do the same.”

Poll workers get significant raises; what do they do?

Inspector

Judges

Clerks

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