FAQs • Green Bay, WI • CivicEngage

Can I be excused from my regular job to be a poll worker?: Wisconsin law requires every employer to grant an unpaid leave of absence to each employee who is appointed to serve as an election official, if the employee who serves as an election official provides their employer with at least seven days’ notice. The leave is for the entire 24-hour period of each election day in which the employee serves in their official capacity as an election official. Upon request of any employer municipal clerks must verify appointments.

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Poll Workers

1. What are the responsibilities of a poll worker?: Poll workers conduct assigned duties at a polling site on Election Day. Duties can include issuing ballots to registered voters, registering voters, monitoring the voting equipment, explaining how to mark the ballot or use the voting equipment, or a greeter who assists with answering questions and directing voters to the voting area.

2. What are the hours of work?: Polling places are open statewide from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Poll workers can work a full day, generally from 6:30 a.m. until approximately 9:00 p.m.

3. Are poll workers (election inspectors) paid or volunteers?: Poll workers are compensated for working at polling places at a rate determined by the appropriate municipal governing body, and, in some municipalities, are also compensated for attending any required training sessions. Poll workers may also choose to volunteer their services by filing a written declination of compensation with the municipal clerk

4. What are the training requirements for poll workers?: The City of Green Bay will provide virtual training for all poll workers. This training provides all of the necessary information and knowledge to be a successful poll worker. An experienced chief inspector who has been certified by the Wisconsin Elections Commission must be present at each polling place for each election. Chief inspectors must receive six hours of continuing election education training during each two-year period.

5. What length of commitment will be expected?: Poll workers are usually appointed to two-year terms and are generally asked to make a minimum two-year commitment.

To be a poll worker, a person must:

Be a qualified elector of the county in which the municipality is located (i.e., an adult citizen of the United States who has resided in the election district for 10 consecutive days and is not otherwise disqualified to vote)
Be able to read and write fluently in the English language
NOT be a candidate for any office to be voted on at the polling place at that election.

A poll worker may also:

7. How do I become a poll worker?: If you are interested in becoming a poll worker, please apply online or print and fill out this application.

8. Can I be excused from my regular job to be a poll worker?: Wisconsin law requires every employer to grant an unpaid leave of absence to each employee who is appointed to serve as an election official, if the employee who serves as an election official provides their employer with at least seven days’ notice. The leave is for the entire 24-hour period of each election day in which the employee serves in their official capacity as an election official. Upon request of any employer municipal clerks must verify appointments.