Volunteer Information
Our areas of greatest need are for Chief Judges, Judges, Provisional/Transfer Assistant and Equipment Assistants. (See details below.) Elections can't happen without citizen involvement. Please consider applying for one of those positions this year.
Pay ranges between $100.00 and $200.00 for the day, depending on the position. Training is mandatory for every position before each election and pays $35.00. There is also a $25.00 payment for helping set up the Polling Place the day before the Election.
Mecklenburg County has the potential to host three (3) elections each year: a Primary Election, a Second Primary Election, and a General Election. Elections are always held on a Tuesday and the polls are open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. All Precinct Officials must be at the polls before they open and remain until after the polls have closed and all work is complete. The day before the election Precinct Officials set up the precinct and review procedures for Election Day.
Each precinct's voting location must be staffed with a Chief Judge, a Republican Judge, a Democratic Judge, a Provisional/Transfer Assistant and an Equipment Assistant. Additional Assistants are scheduled as needed based on projected voter turn-out.
The three Judges (Chief, Republican, and Democratic) are appointed by the three-member County Board of Elections based on political party and staff recommendations. Appointments are for a two-year term beginning in August of odd-numbered years.
Assistants are selected by the Chief Judge based on experience and staff recommendations. Assistants are not appointed. Family members may not serve as a precinct election official within the same precinct.
If you would like to work at the polls on Election Day, complete the pollworker application.
We are also accepting applications for EARLY VOTING volunteers. Please complete this online early voting volunteer application (or print this paper application) if you are interested in working early voting.
Thank you for your interest.
Poll Worker Positions
The Chief Judge is the head official and is in charge of contacting the voting place contacts and precinct officials to make arrangements for each election. The Chief Judge is responsible for handling Election Day activities, delegating duties, as well as delivering returns to the BOE office on election night. For a busy election, it can be a very long day. Chief Judges are paid $200 and must attend a mandatory training session which pays $35.
The Democrat and Republican Judges work closely with the Chief Judge and are responsible for conducting the election in the event of the Chief Judge’s absence. They must sign all official documents and serve on a panel with the Chief Judge to resolve any challenges. The Republican and Democratic Judges are paid $150 and must attend a mandatory training session which pays $35.
The Provisional/Transfer Assistant is responsible for handling provisional and transfer voters. They use the Precinct Automation Device to assist voters so typing and customer service skills are required. They must attend a mandatory training session and become proficient in the laws governing provisional and transfer voters. Provisional/Transfer Assistants are paid $125 and must attend a mandatory training session which pays $35.
Assistants perform the following tasks at precincts:
- Greet voters and provide them with the proper documentation so they can proceed to the voting area.
- Locate voter names in the poll book and mark poll books appropriately, help lead voters to the voting machines and assist with curbside voting.
- Help with crowd control.
- Help lead voters to the voting machines.
- Assist with curbside voting
Assistants are paid $100 and must attend a mandatory training session which pays $35.
The Equipment Assistant must be comfortable working with touch screen machines and understand mechanical terminology to perform duties as instructed. All Equipment Assistants must attend a mandatory training and demonstrate proficiency in opening, operating and closing voting equipment. Equipment Assistants are paid $125 and the training pays $35.