Become a Polling Place Official
Interested in becoming a polling place official for your local precinct? During the May 20, 2025, primary, voters will elect their neighbors to serve four-year terms as polling place officials, known as Judges of Elections and Inspectors of Elections.
The people elected to these positions help manage their local precinct on Election Day. You can learn more here about what poll workers do and the benefits of becoming one.
To run for election to one of these positions, you must complete these steps:
- Ensure you meet all the qualifications.
- You must be a registered voter in your election precinct.
- You must not hold any appointed or salaried position in local, state, or federal government – including any public boards, trusts, or commissions - for at least 2 months before any election.
- You must not be a candidate for any public office on the ballot for any election you will work. (Note that Judge of Elections, Inspector of Elections, and party offices are not considered public offices, so candidates for those offices are still permitted to serve as poll workers.)
- Contact your county elections office and determine how to obtain the necessary paperwork.
- This paperwork will include nomination petitions, which you will use to collect at least the minimum number of required signatures from eligible voters.
- Judge of Elections positions require 10 signatures; Majority and Minority Inspector positions require 5.
- Everyone who signs your petition must be registered to vote in your precinct and must be registered in the political party you want to run in (Democrat or Republican).
- The paperwork will also include a candidate affidavit, which you must complete.
- This paperwork will include nomination petitions, which you will use to collect at least the minimum number of required signatures from eligible voters.
- Return your completed paperwork to your county elections office in time for it to be reviewed and accepted before close of business March 11, 2025.
We encourage you to contact your county elections office with any questions about this process.
How to Volunteer To Be a Poll Worker
Most poll worker roles are filled by volunteers, who do not have to run for a polling place official position. If you are interested in volunteering to help at your local precinct as a poll worker, complete a poll worker interest form.
After you submit the form, your county's elections office will contact you.
You may reach out to the elections office to follow up. You can find contact information on the Contact Your Election Officials page.
Benefits of Being a Poll Worker
- Learn about elections in Pennsylvania
- Gain valuable experience
- Get paid for trainings and Election Day
- Help your local community
- Be a champion of democracy
Requirements
- In general, you must be registered to vote in the county where you wish to work at the polls. (Exceptions exist for 17-year-old high school students, who must meet additional requirements. High school students should contact their county elections office for more information.)
- Government officials and government employees are not allowed to serve as poll workers. Exceptions exist for district judges, notaries public, and members of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Likewise, you are generally not allowed to serve if your name appears on the ballot.
- Poll workers generally work for the entire day on Election Day, from before the time the polls open at 7:00 am until after the polls close at 8:00 pm.