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
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 2022 General 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 2024, your pay will be $15 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 2022 General Election, you are required to complete training, either in-person or virtually. Virtual training can be accessed starting May 15, 2024 at www.ucnj.org/pollworker. Both the Machine & Poll Worker Modules must be completed in order to receive full credit.
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.
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 2022 General Election, can train virtually or in-person. Certificate of Completion required for virtual trainees
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | 10:00am to 12:00pm | Union County Emergency Services Bldg. 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
| Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | 2:00pm to 4:00pm | Union County Emergency Services Bldg. 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
| Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | 10:00am to 12:00pm | Plainfield Public Library 800 Park Avenue, Plainfield |
| Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | 2:00pm to 4:00pm | Plainfield Public Library 800 Park Avenue, Plainfield |
| Thursday, October 24, 2024 | 2:00pm to 4:00pm | Union Township Senior Center 652 Rahway Avenue, Union |
| Friday, October 24, 2024 | 6:00pm to 8:00pm | Union Township Senior Center 652 Rahway Avenue, Union |
| Monday, October 28, 2024 | 10:00am to 12:00pm | Mountainside Municipal Building Community Room, 1385 Route 22 East |
| Monday, October 28, 2024 | 2:00pm to 4:00pm | Mountainside Municipal Building Community Room, 1385 Route 22 East |
| Monday, October 28, 2024 | 6:00pm to 8:00pm | Mountainside Municipal Building Community Room, 1385 Route 22 East |
| Wednesday October 30, 2024 | 10:00am to 12:00pm | Summit Community Center 100 Morris Avenue, Summit |
| Wednesday, October 30, 2024 | 2:00pm to 4:00pm | Summit Community Center 100 Morris Avenue, Summit |
| Friday, November 1, 2024 | 6:00pm to 8:00pm | Union County Emergency Services Bldg. 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
| Saturday, November 2 , 2024 | 12:00pm to 2:00pm | Union County Emergency Services Bldg. 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
| Saturday, November 2, 2024 | 3:00pm to 5:00pm | Union County Emergency Services Bldg. 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
| Sunday, November 3, 2024 | 11:00am to 1:00pm | Union County Emergency Services Bldg. 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
Election Equipment Open House Schedule
The Election Board is hosting election equipment open houses for seasoned poll workers and first timers who would like to better familiarize themselves with the ExpressVote XL Voting Machine and the NEW Electronic Poll Book.
- This is not a formal, required training session.
- The voting machines and electronic poll books will be available for poll workers to train.
- Staff will be available to answer any questions you may have.
- Capacity within the room will be limited.
- There will not be a formal training presentation.
- Attending an Open House does not fulfill the training requirement.
- You may come at any time during the hours posted and stay for a long, or as short of a time, as you would like.
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.
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, October 21, 2024 | 1pm – 4pm | Union County Emergency Service Building 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
| Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | 3pm – 6pm | Union County Emergency Services Building 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
| Thursday, October 24, 2024 | 1pm – 4pm | Union County Emergency Services Building 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
| Friday, October 25, 2024 | 4pm – 7pm | Union County Emergency Services Building 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
| Tuesday, October 29, 2024 | 4pm – 7pm | Union County Emergency Services Building 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
| Wednesday, October 30, 2024 | 1pm – 4pm | Union County Emergency Services Building 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
| Friday, November 1, 2024 | 1pm – 4pm | Union County Emergency Services Building 535 Laurel Avenue, Roselle Park |
| Saturday, November 2, 2024 | 10am – 2pm | Union County Board of Elections 271 No. Broad Street, Elizabeth |
| Sunday, November 3, 2024 | 10am – 2pm | Union County Board of Elections 271 No. Broad Street, Elizabeth |
EasyVote Poll Worker Management
The Union County Board of Elections is pleased to announce that we have integrated a new poll worker management system. The new system, EasyVote, allows you to create a profile within our system so you can register for training classes, update contact information, confirm your availability to work on Election Day and get your assignment information. Rest assured, no confidential information is stored in the system.
You should have received an initial, personalized email which contains an individualized link, and your initial User ID & Password for our Poll Worker portal; You will need to enter your First Name, Last Name, and Voter ID number. We recommend that you copy and paste from the email you received.
Once you have gone through the initial registration, you can create your own username and password and access the site through the following link:
Poll Worker Paycheck Distribution Schedules and Paycheck Messenger Designee