Qualifications vary by jurisdictions. Most states require poll workers to live in or be registered to vote in the state or their local jurisdiction. Some local election offices have student poll worker programs for younger people who aren’t yet eligible to vote but would like to play an important part of the democratic process.

Individuals are generally only allowed to serve in the state where they reside/vote, though there may be exceptions to this in select jurisdictions.

Most states require that poll workers are U.S. citizens. The best way to find this information is by looking up your zip code at https://www.powerthepolls.org/search or reaching out to your local election office.

Many states allow individuals under 18 to be poll workers, but each state has its own requirements, and sometimes these can vary depending on which part of the state you are in. The best way to find this information is by looking up your zip code at http://www.powerthepolls.org/search or reaching out to your local election office.

Some jurisdictions allow workers to sign up for shifts, while others require you to work full days. Hours also often vary for early voting work versus Election Day. If you’re concerned about the hours, you should submit your application and let your election officials know about your availability. If your jurisdiction requires a full day of work and you can’t make those hours but still want to help, think about recruiting other people you know to be a poll worker and can serve for the full time needed.

Poll working is usually a non-partisan activity and your party affiliation does not matter, but in some states poll workers are matched to locations in pairs based on their party registration. This is sometimes done to ensure party balance among poll workers at every polling location. Applications in some jurisdictions may ask you for party registration information for this purpose.