Poll workers are needed for general election
Thousands of openings are available throughout the local four-county region.
Whether you’re in the Allegheny foothills, Westmoreland’s small boroughs or the rural edges of Washington or Fayette County, your presence at a polling place can make a difference.
This November, you could be the friendly face guiding a neighbor through their civic duty.
As Pennsylvania gears up for its municipal election on Nov. 4, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt is reminding residents across the state — especially in small towns — that this is a prime opportunity for civic engagement.
“Serving as a poll worker in your community is one of the most important and rewarding acts of civic engagement you can perform,” Schmidt said.
Pennsylvania relies on approximately 45,000 poll workers to staff more than 9,000 voting locations each Election Day, and there are still a lot of gaps to fill.
Every polling station needs an average of five essential roles — judge, majority inspector, minority inspector, clerk and machine inspector — and every precinct in these counties awaits your support.
In Southwestern Pennsylvania, like other small communities across the state, there is a patchwork of staffing gaps.
Allegheny County, which includes smaller cities like McKeesport and boroughs like Glassport and White Oak, is facing a serious shortfall.
According to county data, of the roughly 4,000 elected poll worker positions on the November ballot, about 3,500 remain unfilled.
Other counties in the Mon Valley face a similar need.
Though Washington, Fayette and Westmoreland counties do not have specific staffing numbers in publicly available sources, it’s reasonable to assume they share similar challenges. Southwestern Pennsylvania, where all four counties are located, has seen shifting interests and patterns from election to election in past years, accord- POLL WORKERS •A4
“Serving as a poll worker in your community is one of the most important and rewarding acts of civic engagement you can perform.”
AL SCHMIDT
SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH ing to state data.
There are incentives to get involved this November.
Volunteering offers an opportunity to play a role in democracy that helps ensure votes are cast fairly, accurately and securely.
Poll workers help to check in voters, manage ballots and machines and oversee the smooth closing of polling places.
Compensation
There’s also compensation for the important work put in, and some training required.
In Allegheny County, poll workers earn $150 to $175 per day, which includes pay for mandatory training sessions.
This applies to roles such as judges, inspectors and clerks of election. In Washington County, workers are guaranteed a minimum daily compensation of $150, which covers both training and Election Day work.
Westmoreland County poll workers receive $175 per day, inclusive of training.
Those serving as judges of election are paid $200 per day, also covering training and any related fees.
Although specific figures aren’t available for Fayette County workers, available data suggests the county typically follows the statutory framework, offering compensation between $75 and $200 per day, depending on roles and training, as set by state Election Code.
Qualifications
Poll workers must be registered voters in the county where they want to serve, at least 18 years old and be U.S. citizens meeting all Pennsylvania voter eligibility rules.
There is a program for high school students to allow young people to get involved.
Students who are 17 years old and either a junior or senior can become a poll worker with permission from a parent or guardian and permission from their school principal.
Bilingual speakers are especially needed, particularly in Spanish or Mandarin, as more counties work to reduce language barriers at polling sites.
Preferred skills that are helpful but not required include comfortability working with the public and handling paperwork, the ability to sit or stand for long hours (Election Day runs from roughly 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.) and possession of bilingual skills.
Elected officials and candidates for office generally cannot serve as poll workers. Political party officers may also face restrictions depending on the role.
How to apply
Any registered voter can volunteer by completing the Department of State’s Poll Worker Interest Form online. Information will be forwarded to your local county elections office.
Students can submit the Student Poll Worker Interest Form if they meet the age and permission requirements.
Local election offices can be contacted directly for instructions for questions.
• Allegheny County: Visit the Poll Worker page via the Elections Department site, complete the online application and await recruitment communication.
• Washington County: Contact the Elections office at (724) 228-6750 or via email, or go to vote.pa.gov and complete the Poll Worker Interest Form.
• Westmoreland County: Use the online form — confirm eligibility, select your role and submit. Training is required and Election Day is an all-day commitment.
• Fayette County: Reach out to the Fayette County Board of Elections or visit its official site for interest forms and detailed guidelines.
