Poll Worker Resources

Poll Workers: A Brief Introduction

Poll workers form the backbone of American elections, protecting every voter's right to vote and defending the integrity, security, and accuracy of elections in Delaware County. Poll worker responsibilities include setting up the polling location, checking in registered voters, explaining voting procedures to voters, oversight of voting equipment and ballots, monitoring the conduct of the election, completing paperwork and ensuring a campaign-free zone inside the precinct. Delaware County needs approximately 2,000 poll workers each election.

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Poll Worker Hotline (484) 460-3750

Need help with anything related to working the polls?  Call us.  Our hotline can assist you with the following and more:

• Election board roles and how to fill vacancies 
• Poll Worker procedures and guidelines 
• In person and online training details
• The Poll Worker test and preparation
• Pick-up and drop-off of supplies

Whether you have questions about your role or need clarification on any topic covered here, our team is ready to help—simply call the Hotline.

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How to Become a Poll Worker

To become a Poll Worker, you must meet several requirements:

• Be a US Citizen and a Registered Delaware County Voter
• Must not hold any public office, appointment or employment in the government including municipal, state or county employees except for district judge, notary public, and member of the PA National Guard
• Must not be a candidate whose name is on the ballot in that precinct, except for candidates for Judge of Election, candidates for Inspector, and candidates for Party Committee People
• Able to read, write and speak English, as well as perform basic math
• Be physically capable of sitting and/or standing for long periods, hearing voters, and writing information
• Be able to follow instructions from the Judge of Election
• Patiently listen to and communicate with voters and coworkers in a courteous, efficient manner
• Must attend County administered training sessions in advance of election
• Must be completely non-partisan while serving (not campaigning, handing out literature or wearing political items)
• Must work to keep the voting area a campaign-free zone ensuring that voters are free to cast ballots without influence or intimidation
• Serve from approximately 6:00am to 9:00pm

Delaware County voters interested in becoming a poll worker should complete the application below to join the Delco Poll Worker database. If there are no vacancies in your area, you may be asked to serve elsewhere in the County. If you are not scheduled this current election cycle, you'll stay in our database and may be contacted for future elections. The Poll Worker Hotline primarily uses email to communicate directly with Poll Workers.

 

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Poll Worker Positions

The legal staffing standard is five (5) Election Officials in each precinct: Judge of Election, Majority Inspector, Minority Inspector, Machine Operator and Clerk. Larger precincts may require additional staffing while smaller precincts or two smaller precincts may operate with fewer staff working together. Judges and Inspectors are required to work a full day which is from 6:00AM to 9:00PM approximately. Clerks and Machine Operators may work a 1/2-day shift. Judges and Inspectors are on the ballot in 2025 and are elected for a 4-year term that ends in December 2029.

Standard positions and responsibilities are:

Judge of Elections

• Officer in charge of Election Day activities personnel inside the polling locations, including the Constable and enforcing the rules at the precinct
• Assigns tasks to open and close the polls and run the precinct
• Determines the set-up for efficiency and voter privacy
• Responsible for completion of paperwork as well as pick up and return of election supplies to the County Election Bureau
• Issues provisional ballots
• Serves as primary contact with election staff 
• Attends in-person training every 4 elections. 

Majority Inspector

• Assist with opening and closing of the polling location
• Assist with checking in voters on the Poll Pad and addressing voter messages, maintaining the numbered list of voters and handing out ballots to eligible voters
• Assists with paperwork and signs all applicable paperwork

Minority Inspector

• Has the same responsibilities as the Majority Inspector
• Additionally, may appoint a Minority Clerk
• Signs the provisional ballot envelope and all other envelopes
• Keeps the Minority Inspector Envelope for 2 years after the election 

Clerk

• Assists with opening and closing of the polling location.
• Assists  with checking in voters on the Poll Pad and addressing voter messages, maintain the numbered list so for voters and handing out ballots to eligible voters
• Perform as duties assigned by the Judge of Elections
• May be a high school student 

Machine Inspector

• Opens and closes the ballot scanner and Touch Writer
• Assists with opening and closing of the polling location
• Assists voters at the ballot scanner and Touch Writer when necessary while maintaining voter privacy.
• May be a high student

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Poll Worker Pay

Title	Pay	More Information
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.
 

Poll workers are expected to work from 6:00am until the polling location is closed and all paper work is completed approximately 9:00 pm. The Judge and Inspectors must work the full day. Clerks and machine operators may work ½ day shifts – 6:00am to 1:00pm or 1:00pm to 9:00pm for ½ the pay of $70.

In-person training pay:

• $150 for poll workers who complete the in-person training in the weeks before the Election Day AND pass the test AND serve a full day successfully on Election Day.
• $75 for any who meet these qualifications but serve only half of Election Day.

Online training pay:

• $100 for Inspectors, Machine Operators and Clerks who complete online training AND pass the test AND serve a full day successfully on Election Day.
• $50 for those who meet the qualifications above but serve only half of 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 this election or at least one of the following elections: April 2024,  November 2024 or May 2025.
• Judges who last completed in-person training in November  2023 or earlier will NOT be eligible for training pay if they do not complete in-person training for this election. If you are not sure of your status, call the Poll Worker Hotline. 

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Student Poll Worker Program

Program update: Students may now choose between being paid or receiving community service hours for working the polls!

We are accepting applications for the Student Poll Worker Program. This program promotes civic awareness and educates high school students (at least 17 years of age) about the election process by allowing students to serve as 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 are strongly encouraged to attend a training session and will be expected to work their assigned shift.

Please complete the online Poll Worker Staff Form above and submit the completed form by email at DelcoPollWorkers@co.delaware.pa.us OR submit in person at:

Delaware County Bureau of Elections
201 West Front Street
Government Center Bldg., Ground Floor
Media, PA 19063-2728

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Filling Vacancies in an Election Board: Vacancy Kits for Court Appointments

Judge of Election and Inspectors vacancies can be filled for the remainder of the term (through the December 2025) by submitting the Vacancy Kit application below. Poll workers must live in the precinct where they are seeking a court appointment AND  be either a registered Democrat or Republican. The Judge of Election must be the same party that received the majority of votes in the previous November election and the Inspector cannot be the same party as the other Inspector. Please call the Poll Worker Hotline to verify you are qualified to be court appointed. Petition due dates and court hearings for the upcoming election are:

Petitions Due in Office	Court Hearing Date and Time
Tuesday, October 14, 2025	Tuesday, October 21, 2025 9:30 a.m.
*Note that individuals seeking to fill a vacancy are NOT expected to appear at these Court dates. Available Vacancy Kits
Judge of Elections	Minority and Majority Inspector

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The Election Day Guide for Poll Workers for the 2025 Municipal Election Will Be Available Soon

If you are new to poll working, please review the Primary Guide below to familiarize yourself with the day’s procedures.

The Election Day Guide, in addition to in-person training, help poll workers to: Set up the polling place properly, Use the Poll Pads to check in voters, Properly direct voters and poll watchers, Manage a “campaign free zone” in the polling place, and, Properly close the polls and complete your paperwork Election Day Guide

Please note that in-person instruction is equally important. We recommend that all Judges of Election and new poll workers take in-person training.

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In-Person Poll Worker Training

Delaware County in-person training sessions for Poll Workers will run from September through the Saturday before Election Day. All in-person classes will include hands-on Poll Pad experience.

Please note: In-person sessions and related trainings are coordinated via email. Registration is required. An email with a sign-up link will be sent to poll workers when dates and times are finalized.

All in-person classes will include hands-on Poll Pad experience.

Note: ALL classes will be held in the County Council Room, located on the 1st floor in the Government Center Building (201 W. Front Street, Media, PA).

Free garage parking is available in the Court House Garage on 3rd Street ONLY during classes held Monday - Friday evenings and Saturdays. Media Borough charges $1.50 per hour for street parking from 8:00am to 8:00pm, Monday - Saturday. Meters accept quarters only and the kiosks accept quarters, credit cards and the Passport App. There are very limited free parking spaces nearby.

Call the Poll Worker Hotline at 484-460-3750 if you have any questions regarding training or training pay.

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 for at least one of the following elections: April 2024, November 2024 and May 2025.
• To receive online training pay, a Judge of Election must have completed in-person training for April 2024, November 2024 and May 2025 AND and pass the poll worker test AND serve successfully.
• A Poll Worker who is newly court-appointed must complete in-person training.

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PowerPoint In-Person Training Slides

This PowerPoint supports poll worker training by clearly outlining procedures, policies, and best practices to ensure a smooth and secure voting process. It’s a supplemental resource to the Election Day Guide for understanding voter check-in procedures on the Poll Pad, ballot handling, equipment setup and breakdown and troubleshooting. Please review it to prepare for your role as a poll worker. Training PowerPoint

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Election Day Machine Setup Training Video

This comprehensive video explains all aspects of setup 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.

Note: The video was filmed during Covid and those protocols and supplies are no longer necessary.

 

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Election Equipment Open Houses

The Bureau of Elections will hold several Election Equipment Open Houses before Election Day. We encourage all poll workers to join us to familiarize themselves with the equipment, and to ask questions about equipment set up, use, and shut down. Open Houses are not structured classes but instead opportunities to get hands-on experience with the equipment and ask as many questions of equipment experts as you need, at your own pace. Visit as long or as briefly as you like.

A LIST OF OPEN HOUSE DATES AND TIMES WILL BE EMAILED TO EACH POLL WORKER.

All Open Houses will be held in the Delaware County Council Room, 1st floor in the Government Center Building, located at 201 W. Front St., in Media.

Note: Attending an Open House does NOT qualify as a training class and attendance is unpaid.

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Poll Worker Test

The Poll Worker Test for the November 5, 2025 Municipal Election will be available in October.

NEW: Please check your email for your unique link to the test. A link to the live test is NO longer accessible via our web page. If you did not receive an email with your link, please contact the Poll Worker Hotline.

IMPORTANT TEST UPDATES: Due to a recent software upgrade, the online test link is NO longer available here . You can only access the online test via the email link sent to you directly. You can receive a hard copy of test by requesting a hard copy, printing a copy from the PDF posted on our website or picking up a copy in class. Additionally, the answer key is unavailable. We know how helpful and popular these features are, and we're actively working to bring them back for the November election.

About the Poll Worker Test
To be paid for training, all poll workers must pass the Delaware County Poll Worker Test, regardless of experience or participating in online or in-person training AND successfully work the polls. The test is customized to each election. Poll workers will NOT be paid for training if they fail to pass the test or do not successfully serve on Election Day. JOES will not be paid for online training if they have not attended in-person training since April 2024.

A score of 80% (20 out of 25 questions answered correctly) is needed to pass. If you are struggling to pass the test, call the Poll Worker Hotline for assistance. You must have your answers written down to receive assistance. The test can be taken as many times as needed to score a passing grade. To ensure poll workers are rested before Election Day, the test link will be deactivated at 9:00 p.m. on Monday night before Election Day.

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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

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Safety Awareness

Homeland Security’s Election Infrastructure Division provided fact and tip sheets to support our poll workers with essential guidance for Election Day. These resources offer practical tips and important information to ensure a smooth and secure voting process.

Please review these as you prepare for Election Day. Your dedication to upholding election integrity is greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Election Material Pick-Ups

Election Day supplies, i.e. the JOE Kit, consisting of the Green Tote and the Poll Pad are to be picked up by the Judge of Elections. If the Judge of Elections is not available to pick up the supplies, a designated individual may pick up the JOE kit only if the Supply Release is completed by the Judge of Elections. Without the Supply Release, the Bureau of Elections may not release the JOE kit to anyone else. The Supply Release may be delivered in person or mailed to the Bureau of Elections or emailed to Voterreg@co.delaware.pa.us. Judges of Election or their representative will be able to pick up Election Day supplies at the County Government Center in Media on Saturday, November 1, 2025 from 8:30am–1:00pm. If you are unable to pick up on Saturday, please call Voter Registration at 610-891-4659 to make alternative arrangements.

On Saturday only, Poll Workers can 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.

NOTE:  ALL persons picking up the JOE Kit must present valid PHOTO ID.
 

Supply Release Affidavit 

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Election Material Drop-Offs

ALL Election Day material drop-offs will be held at the Government Center Building in Media on Election Night after the polls are closed. Only 1 poll worker per precinct should enter the building. 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.

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Questions?

If you have questions about serving as a poll worker, please contact the Poll WorkerHotline by email at delcopollworkers@co.delaware.pa.us or call at (484)-460-3750.