Be a Poll Official
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Become an Election Poll Official
On Election Day, approximately 3,000 of your neighbors serve voters in Gwinnett by working as poll officials — you can take part in this great effort!
As a poll official at one of our polling places, you play an active role in ensuring the ongoing success of the electoral process. We need dedicated individuals who take pride in their work, who are patient and enjoy teamwork, and who are diligent and detail oriented.
Whenever possible, poll officials are assigned to their home precinct. However, if there are no vacancies at your polling place, you may be asked to work at one nearby.
What are the requirements to become a poll official?
- Complete an online training course prior to each election, as required by the state, and depending on assigned position may be required to attend an additional 2 to 4 hours of in-person training.
- Report to your assigned polling place at 5:30am on Election Day and remain until all voters have left and closing procedures are completed.
- Apply and provide proof of U.S. Citizenship by completing the I-9 process. Once you apply, you will receive an email from Gwinnett Human Resources regarding this process.
For more requirements and to apply to become an Election Poll Official, visit GwinnettCountyJobs.com.
Gwinnett County Voter Registrations and Elections and your fellow citizens appreciate the dedicated poll officials who help us make our elections work.
Election Day Overview
How to prepare on Election Day?
Plan Ahead: Poll officials will not be able to leave the polling place once they have been sworn in.
Breaks: Established meal and break times should be provided. Be aware that most private facilities used as polling locations do not allow smoking and/or vaping. Per Gwinnett County ordinance, smoking and/or vaping are strictly prohibited on County-owned properties and facilities.
What to Bring: Bring food and beverages, medications, and coolers if needed. Please note that not all polling locations have refrigerators, microwaves, or sometimes no extra rooms for meals or breaks.
What to Wear: Dress in comfortable clothing and shoes. Remember, many people suffer with asthma or allergy conditions so strong scents should be avoided.
What is a typical Election Day like for a poll official?
Polls are open from 7:00am to 7:00pm unless hours are extended by the court’s order. The poll manager typically picks up election materials the day before Election Day.
5:30am: Chief Officer of Election arrives.5:30am – 7:00am: Prepare for election.
- Take the oath.
- Welcome authorized poll watchers or observers.
- Review assignments.
- Set up the polling place.
- Check supplies, signs, and forms; post signs inside/outside of polling place; and set up equipment and instructional materials
- Set up pollbook station and pollbooks
- Lay out forms and reference materials
- Set up and verify voting equipment and ensure voting booths and machines are positioned for privacy
- Ensure an emergency ballot box is available, emptied, and locked.
- Complete pre-election paperwork
- This is when voters cast their ballots. Voters in line at the time the polls close are also allowed to vote as usual.
- While polls are open, poll officials should be aware of and continuously monitor individuals allowed in the polling place, prohibited activities, and voting systems and ballots.
- Poll officials are required to track certain types of activities and count special ballots cast, provisional ballots, and requests for assistance casting a ballot as well.
- At exactly 7:00pm, a poll official announces, “The polls are officially closed.”
- Anyone in line when the polls close at 7:00pm must be allowed to vote as usual
- After all voting is completed, close the pollbooks
- Complete and sign forms and paperwork
