Who are Poll Workers?

Poll workers are an important part of the election process and are active voters who serve their community and local government proudly.  In fact, elections would not be possible without these dedicated individuals.  Poll workers are the front-line representatives of the Supervisor of Elections Office.  Sometimes poll workers are the only contact a voter has with our office. We want each voter to have a pleasant voting experience therefore our poll workers must interact well with the public and work well in times of stressful situations

There are several different positions to be filled for each polling place on Election Day.  These positions are comprised of a clerk, assistant clerk, floor manager, inspectors and a deputy. Below is a brief description of each position.

Clerk:  The clerk is responsible for a variety of duties prior to Election Day. Some of those duties consist of contacting their assigned workers, picking up supplies, and checking out their polling place.  The clerk is in charge of all workers on Election Day.  Some Election Day duties consist of completing paperwork and helping voters who need to update their voting information.

Assistant Clerk:  Assists the clerk on Election Day and is willing and capable of taking over as clerk in cases of emergencies.

Floor Manager:  The floor manager assists voters as needed casting their ballots into the Insight optical scan unit.  They handle any minor problems that may arise with the voting machines.

Inspectors:  The duties of the inspector include verifying the eligibility of the voter and the ability to process voters using the EViD (electronic voter identification). The inspector also has the job of issuing the correct ballot style to the voter.

Deputy:  These workers are deputized by the Indian River County Sheriff. The deputy maintains law and order outside the polling place on Election Day and makes sure that the 100 foot solicitation area remains free of campaign signs, campaign workers, literature and candidates.  They also help other members of the team to set up and tear down the election equipment before and after the polls open for voters.

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Training

Florida Statutes require that all poll workers receive training before each election.  There are two types of training (online and classroom); poll workers must complete each. Online training can be completed at your home with your own computer OR you may schedule a time to come to our office to use our computers. Classroom training is held in small groups and in an informal setting so workers can feel free to ask questions.

Physical Requirements

You must be a registered voter in Indian River County, able to read and write English and have the ability to endure a 14-15 hour day. You must have adequate vision and hearing.

Work Hours and Pay Rates

Workers must report to the polling location in which they have been assigned to work no later than

6:00 A.M.    Workers must remain at the polling location for the duration of the day and may not leave.  The work day ends when all procedures have been completed, all materials are packed away, and the polling place is in the order that it was found.

The rate of pay depends on the position in which you are assigned.  Workers are paid for completing training and working Election Day. Checks are issued as quickly as possible after the election.

How Can You Become a Poll Worker?

You can take the first step by simply calling the Supervisor of Elections Office at 772-226-3444. We will be happy to schedule you for the next poll worker orientation class.  A presentation will be made describing responsibilities, the amount of pay and the hours of training for each position.  You will be given a test from the information presented; you must score at least 80% in order to be considered to be a poll worker.  You will be asked to complete an application at the orientation. 

We hold orientation classes so we can give you as much general information as possible. This information will allow you to evaluate if becoming a poll worker is right for you.