Requirements
- Must be 18 years old
- Minors ages 16-17 may work up to 8 hours on Election Day
- Must be a registered voter in Union County
- Must read and write English legibly
- Must be able to get to your polling location
- Attend mandatory training when required
Apply to Become a Union County Poll Worker
Election Day Poll Worker Application (for those who would like to work Election Day, not during Early Voting)
Early Voting Poll Worker Application (for those who would like to work Early Voting)
Rate of Pay
The statutory pay for working an Election Day is $300
You can earn additional money…
- Earn an additional $12.50 for picking up the election supplies for your district.
- Earn an additional $12.50 for returning the election supplies for your district.
- Pick up and drop off of election supplies is coordinated by the municipal clerk in the town in which you are working.
- Poll Workers working in Elizabeth will pick up their supplies on a first come, first serve basis from the UCBOE 271 No. Broad St., Elizabeth on the Monday before Election Day and return materials to the Elizabeth Municipal Clerk’s Office.
Responsibilities
- Help your community exercise their right to vote in Union County!!!
- Work the June Primary Election and the November General Election
- Work 5:15 am – 8:15 pm (approx.)
- Open and close the polls on time
- Open, operate and close the voting machines and electronic poll books
- Set up your polling place
- Process voters
Training & Rate of Pay
Pursuant to state statute, poll worker training is required every two years. If you do not attend training when you are required, your pay is reduced.
In March 2022, the Governor signed legislation increasing poll worker pay to $300 for the day. This new law also addresses poll worker pay for poll workers who are required to come to training, but fail to do so. As has always been the case, training is required every two years.
The statute states “in the case of any member of the board who is required … to attend in a given year a training program for district board members, but who fails to attend such a training program in that year, that compensation shall be commensurate with the State minimum wage for each of those elections.”
The new pay rate for poll workers is $21.43 per hour (or $300 for the day). If you are required to attend training, but do not attend training and work the polls, you will be paid at a rate of $14 per hour on Election Day in 2023. The minimum wage will increase to $15 per hour in 2024.
In person training is mandatory for First Time Poll Workers. Seasoned poll workers may train virtually or in-person. Virtual training is encouraged, but not required, prior to each election for all poll workers.
Online Poll Worker Application
Online Training
The Board of Elections is pleased to announce a NEW & IMPROVED virtual training platform in an effort to be more accessible and flexible for our poll workers.
- The platform will be available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
- You can review a specific section as often as you wish to ensure you understand all aspects of your duties on Election Day!
- You can reference all materials on your mobile device on Election Day in the event you need additional support while things are happening!
- Videos have been added to show you how to interact with your voters and how to perform your functions well.
- Assessments are included so you can gauge your understanding of certain topics.
Mandatory Poll Worker Training
Pursuant to state statute, poll worker training is required every two years. If you do not attend training when you are required, your pay is reduced.
In March 2022, the Governor signed legislation increasing poll worker pay to $300 for the day. This new law also addresses poll worker pay for poll workers who are required to come to training, but fail to do so. As has always been the case, training is required every two years.
The statute states “in the case of any member of the board who is required … to attend in a given year a training program for district board members, but who fails to attend such a training program in that year, that compensation shall be commensurate with the State minimum wage for each of those elections.”
The new pay rate for poll workers is $21.41 per hour (or $300 for the day). If you are required to attend training, but do not attend training and work the polls, you will be paid at a rate of $13 per hour on Election Day in 2022. The minimum wage will increase to $14 per hour in 2023 and $15 per hour in 2024.
In-Person / First Timer Training
Space and training sessions are limited. In-Person training is for First Time Poll Workers and Poll Workers who have not been trained since the 2023 Primary Election. All other poll workers shall utilize the online training portal.
Thank you for working on Election Day as a poll worker with the Union County Board of Elections to ensure our communities can exercise their right to vote. Your participation is very much appreciated!
Training Requirement
Pursuant to State Statute, each new poll worker must receive training prior to working on Election Day and every two years thereafter. First timers must train in person. Please allow approximately 2 hours for training. If you are not on time, you will be asked to leave and attend another training.
Rate of Pay (and the penalty for not training when required)
The daily rate for serving as a poll worker is $300. If you do not attend training when you are required to, a new law requires your pay to be reduced equal to minimum wage. In 2025, your pay will be $16.08 per hour or $225 for the day if you do not attend required training. If you are a new poll worker, you are required to be trained in-person.
If you are a seasoned poll worker last trained in the 2023 Primary Election, you are required to complete training, either in-person or virtually.
This detailed training is designed to provide Union County’s Poll Workers with the knowledge and tools necessary to be an effective and educated poll worker.
The schedule of available training sessions is on the back side of this sheet. You only need to attend one training course.
I look forward to seeing you then!
Nicole L. DiRado, Administrator
Union County Board of Elections
You only need to attend one in-person class if you are a new poll worker. Returning poll workers, last trained in the 2023 Primary Election, can train virtually or in-person. Certificate of Completion required for virtual trainees.
Monday, May 18, 2026 in Mountainside
Mountainside Municipal Building, 1385 Route 22 East, Community Room
- 10:00am to 12:00pm
- 2:00pm to 4:00pm
- 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 in Roselle Park
Union County Emergency Services Building, 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park
- 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 in Fanwood
Forest Road Park – Main Room, 200 Forest Road, Fanwood
- 10:00am to 12:00pm
- 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Thursday, May 21, 2026 in Union
Union Township Senior Center, 652 Rahway Avenue, Union
- 10:00am to 12:00pm
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 in Summit
Summit Community Center, 100 Morris Avenue
- 10:00am to 12:00pm
- 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Thursday, May 28, 2026 in Roselle Park
Union County Emergency Services Building, 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park
- 2:00pm to 4:00pm
- 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Roselle Park
Union County Emergency Services Building, 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park
- 11:00am to 1:00pm
- 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Sunday, May 31, 2026 in Roselle Park
Union County Emergency Services Building, 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park
- 11:00am to 1:00pm
Election Equipment Open House Schedule
We are hosting open houses for poll workers who would like to better familiarize themselves with the new ExpressVote XL Voting Machine and ExpressPoll Electronic Poll Books.
This is not a formal, required training session. The machines will be available for poll workers to train on and staff will be available to answer any questions you may have.
You may come at any time during the hours posted and stay for as long, or as short of a time, as you would like. There will not be a formal training presentation.
Attending one of these events does not qualify for the “required training.”
We hope you find this to be a helpful exercise in better preparing you for Election Day! If you have any questions, please call us at 908-527-4236.
Thank you in advance for your kind attention and your continued cooperation.
Roselle Park
Union County Emergency Services Building, 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park
- Wednesday, May 20, 2026: 11am-2pm
- Thursday, May 21, 2026: 3pm – 6pm
- Friday, May 22, 2026: 4pm – 7pm
- Tuesday, May 26, 2026: 4pm – 7pm
- Wednesday, May 27, 2026:10am –2pm
- Friday, May 29, 2026: 2pm – 5pm
Elizabeth
Union County Board of Elections, 271 North Broad Street, Elizabeth
- Saturday, May 30,2026: 10am – 2pm
- Sunday, May 31, 2026: 10am – 2pm
Poll Worker Paycheck Distribution Schedules and Paycheck Messenger Designee