POLL WORKERS: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Poll workers — also referred to as “Election Officers” — are a critical component of the American election process and serve a vital role in ensuring the integrity of our vote here in Delaware County.
Responsibilities include setting up polling locations, signing in registered voters, providing information and explaining voting procedures to the voters, oversight of voting equipment and ballots, and the monitoring of the conduct of the election.
POLL WORKER HOTLINE
The Poll Worker Hotline (484) 460-3750 handles calls regarding information on Poll Worker drop-off and pick-up of Election Day supplies, in-person training, election board positions, and filling vacancies.
THE ELECTION DAY GUIDE FOR POLL WORKERS (2023 MUNICIPAL ELECTION EDITION)
The Election Day Guide, and the in-person training, will help you:
- Set up the polling place properly.
- Use the poll book (or, in certain precincts, the electronic poll book) to check in voters)
- Correctly direct voters and poll watchers,
- Manage a “campaign free zone” in your polling place, and,
- Properly close the polls and complete your paperwork.
NEW this election:
- Provisional ballots will be printed on the Touch Writer and then given to the voter. You will receive a supply of provisional envelopes, but not the ballots.
- We streamlined drop-off in the spring and aim to make it just as smooth this fall.
- On Election Day, place any messages that need immediate attention in the Lime BOE Envelope.
- We will work to have checks issued as quickly as they were in the spring.
Election Day Guide for Poll Workers (November 7, 2023 Municipal Election Edition)
Important: Poll Workers will continue to place all messages needing immediate review in the Lime BOE Envelope. This change was implemented during this year’s Primary Election.
Please note that in-person instruction is equally important. We recommend all Judges of Election take in-person training.
Judges will qualify for training pay ONLY IF they pass the test, serve successfully AND have attended in-person training for one or more of these elections: May 2022, November 2022, May 2023, or November 2023.
IN-PERSON POLL WORKER TRAINING
Delaware County in-person training sessions for Poll Workers will run from September 20 – November 4, 2023. Please note: These in-person sessions and related trainings are being coordinated via email. Poll Workers are asked to check their email inbox for information regarding in-person sessions and other training opportunities.
Note: ALL classes will be held in the County Council Room, located on 1st floor in the Government Center Building (201 W. Front Street, Media, PA). Parking guidance will be communicated via email.
Please call the Poll Worker Hotline at 484-460-3750 if you have any questions regarding the training sessions.
POLL WORKER TRAINING SESSIONS
Please be aware that the training session schedule has been updated, with new and updated sessions posted in late October and November.
- Monday, September 25, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- Tuesday, October 3, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Monday, October 9, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- Wednesday, October 11, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Saturday, October 14, 10 am – 2 pm (Equipment Open House)
- Wednesday, October 18, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Friday, October 20, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Saturday, October 21, 9:00 am – 11:00 am & 12:00 – 2:00 pm
- Tuesday, October 24, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Wednesday, October 25, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm (Equipment Open House)
- Friday, October 27, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- Friday, November 3, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
- Saturday, November 4, 9:00 am – 11:30 am
POLL WORKER AND POLL PAD TRAINING SESSIONS
Please be aware that the training session schedule has been updated, with new and updated sessions posted in late October and November.
- Wednesday, September 27, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
- Friday, September 29, 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
- Saturday, September 30, 9:00 am – 11:30 am & 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
- Thursday, October 5, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm & 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
- Saturday, October 7, 9 am – 11:30 am & 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
- Thursday, October 12, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
- Friday, October 13, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm & 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
- Monday, October 16, 1 pm – 3:30 pm & 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
- Monday, October 23, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm & 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
- Saturday, October 28, 9 am – 11:30 am & 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
- Monday, October 30, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
- Thursday, November 2, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm & 6 pm – 8:00 pm
- Saturday, November 4, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Please note: Class dates and times are tentative. Class content is subject to change. An email will be sent to poll workers in early September when dates and times are finalized. This email will also include a link for sign up.
Online training is available for ALL Poll Workers, but please note the following:
In-person training is required for any Judge of Election who has not completed an in-person training session May of 2022, November of 2022, or May of 2023. In-person training is required for these individuals to receive training pay.
Any poll worker who is newly court appointed. In-person training is required for these individuals to receive training pay.
ELECTION EQUIPMENT OPEN HOUSES
The Bureau of Elections will hold two Election Equipment Open Houses before the Primary Election. We encourage all poll workers to join us to familiarize themselves with the equipment up close and to ask questions about equipment set up, use and shut down. The Open Houses are not structured classes, but opportunities to get hands on experience with the equipment. Stay as long or little as you would like.
The Open Houses are scheduled for Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., and Wednesday October 25, 2023 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., and will be held in the Delaware County Council Room, located on 1st floor in the Government Center Building, located at 201 W. Front St., in Media.
Poll workers are asked to check their email for details, including information about parking, and can contact the Poll Worker Hotline at (484) 460-3750 with any questions.
Note! Attending the Open House does not count as a training class, and registration is NOT required.
POLL WORKER TRAINING TEST
The Poll Worker Training Test for the November 7, 2023 Municipal Election is no longer live.
About the Poll Worker Test
Regardless of training or experience, all poll workers for the November 7, 2023 Municipal Election are expected to pass the Delaware County Poll Worker Test. Poll workers will not be paid for training if they do not pass the test and successfully serve on Election Day. Judges of Election also must meet the requirement for in-person training -- at this election or a recent election -- to receive pay for training.
A score of 80% (20 out of 25 questions answered correctly) is needed to pass. The test can be taken as many times as needed to score a passing grade. If a Poll Worker would prefer a hard copy of the test, please contact the Poll Worker Hotline at (484) 460-3750 to make arrangements.
The test will be removed on Monday, November 6, 2023 at 9:00 p.m.
POLL WORKER ELECTION MATERIAL PICK-UPS
Judges of Election will be able to pick up Election Day supplies at the County Government Center in Media on November 4, 2023 from 8:30 am until 1:00 pm.
Poll Workers should enter via the parking garage on Third Street side of Government Center Building, park their car on Level C, take the elevator to the Lobby on the Ground Floor, and then proceed to the Voter Registration table.
If the Judge of Election cannot pick up the supplies, the Judge must complete a Supply Release Affidavit to allow the next highest lawfully serving election board member pick up the election supplies the Saturday before Election Day.
The affidavit allows the Judge of Election or the highest lawfully serving election board member to designate an individual to pick-up the supplies for the precinct. Without the affidavit the Election Bureau may not release supplies to anyone not elected or court appointed to the district election board. Poll Workers are asked to return completed affidavits in-person to their Poll Worker Supply Pick Up site.
POLL WORKER ELECTION MATERIAL DROP-OFFS
ALL Election Day material drop-offs will be held at the Government Center Building in Media.
Poll Workers should enter via the parking garage on Third Street side of Government Center Building, park their car on Level C, then and take the elevator to the Lobby on the Ground Floor.
Poll Worker Pay
| Judge of Elections | $150 | For each service precinct. Maximum of 2 precincts. |
| Majority Inspector | $140 | For each service precinct. Maximum of 2 precincts. |
| Minority Inspector | $140 | For each service precinct. Maximum of 2 precincts. |
| Machine Inspector | $140 | For each service precinct. Maximum of 2 precincts. |
| Clerk | $140 | For each service precinct. Maximum of 2 precincts. |
| Pick up Supplies | $20 | Per election officer. |
| Return Supplies | $20 | Per election officer. |
| The supply pay is $20 regardless of how many precincts the election officer is handling. | ||
Online training pay:
$100 for Inspectors, Machine Operators and Clerks who complete online training AND pass the test AND serve successfully on Election Day. Judges of Election may complete online training AND pass the test AND serve successfully to receive online training pay only if they previously completed in-person training for the May 2022 Primary, November 2022 General Election or May 2023 Primary.
Judges of Election who last completed in-person training in November 2021 or earlier are not eligible for online training pay and must complete in-person training AND pass the test AND serve successfully to receive training pay.
Online training pay is $50 for those who meet the qualifications above but serve only half of Election Day.
In-person training pay:
$130 for poll workers who complete in-person training in the weeks before the November Municipal Election AND who pass the test AND serve successfully on Election Day; $65 for any who meet these qualifications but serve only half of Election Day.
Election Day Machine Setup Training Video
This comprehensive video explains all aspects of set-up and breakdown for equipment used on Election Day, with clearly labeled chapters for each Poll Worker process.
Please note that you can easily navigate back and forth across these 60+ chapters.
Click “SHOW MORE” underneath the video description, then click on the blue timecode that corresponds to the chapter you wish to watch. For example, to jump ahead to the chapter called “Ballot Box Setup”, just click “SHOW MORE”, scroll down, and click the blue timecode listed as 00:10:19.
STATE GUIDELINES ON ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND WHO IS ALLOWED IN THE POLLING PLACE
This helpful document from the PA Department of State provides state guidance on the laws and rules in effect at polling places to help voters, election officials, attorneys, and watchers understand their respective roles, responsibilities, and rights.
State Guidance on Voter Privacy [PDF]
HOW TO BECOME A POLL WORKER
Poll workers — also referred to as “Election Officers” — are a critical component of the American election process and serve a vital role in ensuring the integrity of our vote.
Responsibilities include signing in registered voters, explaining voting procedures and the use of voting equipment, providing ballots, and monitoring the conduct of the election.
Poll workers are either elected to office (for a four-year term) or appointed by the Board of Elections. The Judge of Elections and the Majority and Minority Inspectors are elected, while the Machine Operator and Clerk are appointed.
To be considered for an appointment, interested Delaware County residents can submit the short application.
If there is no vacancy in your immediate area, you may be asked to consider serving in other areas.
If you are not appointed during the current election cycle, we will retain your information for future elections.
Note that all poll workers must be registered voters in Delaware County, comfortable with interacting with the public, and interested in learning and staying current with election rules. Training materials and classes are available, as well-trained poll workers are instrumental to the goal of ensuring secure and accurate elections.
POLL WORKER REQUIREMENTS
Citizen of the United States and a Registered Delaware County Voter
Must not hold any public office, appointment or employment in the government.
Must not be a candidate running for public office on the ballot in precinct
Able to read, write and speak English
Must be physically capable of sitting and/or standing for long periods, hearing voters and writing information
Ability to follow instructions from the Judge of Election
Patience to listen and communicate in a courteous and efficient manner
Must attend County administered training sessions in advance of election
Must be completely non-partisan while serving in the precinct (not campaigning, handing out literature or wearing political items), and must work to keep the rest of the room where voting occurs a “campaign free zone.” The “campaign free zone” in the polling place is to ensure that voters are free to cast ballots without influence or intimidation.
POLL WORKER POSITIONS
The legal staffing standard is five (5) Election Officials in each precinct. Sometimes more are needed in larger precincts, and sometimes fewer can manage a small precinct or two smaller precincts working together. The standard positions and responsibilities are as follows:
Judge of Elections
The Judge of Elections oversees all Election Day activities and personnel inside the polls, including the Constable. The Judge opens and closes the polls and is responsible for the paperwork as well as pick up and return of election supplies to the County Election Bureau.
Majority Inspector
The Majority Inspector will assist the Judge of Elections and share responsibility for the operation of the polling site. Along with the Minority Inspector, this inspector will manage the poll books and assist voter sign-in and delivery of ballots to eligible voters.
Minority Inspector
The Minority Inspector has the same responsibilities as the Majority Inspector. In addition, the Minority Inspector is expected to appoint a Minority Clerk and sign the provisional ballot envelope. The Minority Inspector will also receive “Minority Inspector Envelope” on election night. This contains a copy of the election results and numbered list of voters. The Minority Inspector must keep this record of election day in the sealed envelope for two years.
Clerk
The Clerk is appointed by the Minority Inspector to assist in the operations of the polling location on election day. They are tasked with checking in voters, tracking voters in the numbered list of voter books, and delivering ballots.
Machine Inspector
The Machine Inspector is appointed by the Majority Inspector or if the local precinct board is all of the same party, by the county Board of Elections. The Machine Inspector assists in the operations of the ballot scanning equipment and the ballot marking device on election day. They are tasked with assisting voters and maintaining voter privacy.
Filling Vacancies in an Election Board: Vacancy Kits
Vacancies in election boards can be filled by interested parties through the submission of the documents contained in our Vacancy Kits.
These are court appointment documents for positions that were not filled by an election or for vacancies caused by a resignation.
The petition due dates and court hearing dates for the May 16, 2023 Municipal Primary are:
| Petitions Due in Office | Court Hearing Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Wed., September 6, 2023 | Wed., September 13, 2023 (10 a.m.) |
| Thurs., September 21, 2023 | Thurs., September 28, 2023 (10 a.m.) |
| Wed., October 4, 2023 | Wed., October 11, 2023 (10 a.m.) |
| Wed., October 18, 2023 | Wed., October 25, 2023 (10 a.m.) |
Note that individuals seeking to fill a vacancy are NOT expected to appear at these Court dates.
Vacancy Kit: Judge of Elections
Vacancy Kit: Minority and Majority Inspector
Filling Vacancies in an Election Board: Emergency Appointments
Pennsylvania Election Code (25 P.S. §2675) directs that “(c) Vacancies in election boards occurring at any time during the five days immediately preceding any primary or election or on the day of the primary or election may be filled by appointment by the County Board of Elections from a pool of competent persons who are qualified registered electors of the county…Any person appointed to fill a vacancy in accordance with this subsection shall serve as a member of the election board on the day of the primary or election only…”
If you are interested in serving as a member of an election board (aka, working as a Poll Worker) please complete this form.
Note that both new and current Poll Workers must be available to attend one of the County training sessions (in-person and online training is available). The Poll Worker Coordinator Team will contact you regarding your emergency appointment within five days of the election.
STUDENT POLL WORKER PROGRAM
The Delaware County Elections Bureau is now accepting applications for the Student Poll Worker Program. This program promotes civic awareness and educates high school students (17 years of age or older) about the election process by allowing students to serve as paid poll workers (Clerks or Machine Operators) on election day. Students will learn responsibility, teamwork, and leadership while serving the community.
Students will be placed in voting precincts throughout the county as needed with a maximum of two students per precinct. Students will be required to attend all training sessions and will be expected to work the entire day.
We urge interested Delaware County High School students to apply.
Download and complete the Student Poll Worker Permission Form and email it to us at DelcoPollWorkers@co.delaware.pa.us return it to the Delaware County Bureau of Elections office in Media.
Delaware County Bureau of Elections
201 West Front Street, Ground Floor Government Center Bldg.
Media, PA 19063-2728
POLL WORKER CONTACT INFORMATION
Delaware County Elections uses email to communicate directly with Poll Workers. To ensure the County has up-to-date contact information, new Poll Workers are asked to complete the brief Poll Worker Staff Form, accessible through the button below.
If you are a current poll worker, you may also send updated information—including changes to your name, address, phone number, email address, and availability for the upcoming election—to us via email at delcopollworkers@co.delaware.pa.us.
Having accurate information will help ensure that we can quickly and easily communicate critical information to you in a timely manner. Thank you!
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about serving as a poll worker, please contact the Election Bureau's Poll Workers Office by email at delcopollworkers@co.delaware.pa.us.