In order to serve as an election worker, you must be a registered voter of the state if you are 18+. You can also apply if you are a 16- or 17-year-old resident of Michigan. You can check your voter registration status at Michigan.gov/Vote. If you are not yet registered to vote but want to apply to serve, you can register to vote online (at Michigan.gov/Vote) and then sign up.

Additionally, you cannot be a challenger, candidate, member of a candidate's immediate family, or a member of the local board of canvassers. Anyone convicted of a felony or an election crime may not serve.

Yes. You will be paid at an hourly rate no lower than the minimum wage. Election workers are covered by the federal Minimum Wage Act.

Yes, you'll receive training if you're selected as a poll worker.

The Department of State or local election officials will be in touch with details on how to submit an application and receive the requisite training. Ultimately, you will need to be formally appointed by the local city/township board in order to apply.

If you have ever wondered how to become more active in government, there are plenty of opportunities for you that do not involve running for elected office. Michigan has 83 counties, 274 cities, and 1,242 townships. During an election, each of these units of government requires a staff of paid workers to assist voters and help process ballots.

Election workers, also known as poll workers, precinct inspectors and election inspectors, are people who are paid to assist voters and count ballots on Election Day.

To be an election worker, you must be a registered voter of the state. If you are not yet registered to vote but want to serve, you can register to vote online (at Michigan.gov/VoterRegistration) and then sign up. An election worker cannot be be a challenger, candidate, member of a candidate's immediate family, or a member of the local board of canvassers. Anyone convicted of a felony or an election crime may not serve.

Interested? You can sign up today at Michigan.gov/DemocracyMVP to receive more information on the next steps. You will need to attend training(s), submit a completed election inspector application to your local clerk, and be appointed by the local city/township board. Among other things, the application will include name, address and date of birth, political party preference and qualifications to fill the position such as education or experience.

Opening the polls

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• Review a quick reference 1-pager
  
  

Processing voters

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• Review a quick reference 1-pager
  
  

Closing the polls

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Absentee counting boards

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• Review a quick reference 1-pager

COVID-19 and safety at the polls

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Challengers

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Assisting voters

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• Video coming soon

Checks and balances

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Know the facts (and myths) about voting

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What to expect on Election Day

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Please find below a list of third party de-escalation guides and materials for poll workers and elections administrators.

• ASSESS - How to Navigate the Risk When Someone is Escalating
• BDI - Guidelines for De-Escalation and Communication Around Contentious Meetings for Local Elected Officials
• De-Escalation - How You Can Help Defuse Potentially Violent Situations
• EAC - Personal Security for Election Officials
• Election Security - Physical Security of Voting Locations and Election Facilities

Managing Your Precinct on Election Day: Election Inspector Reference Manual – This reference guide and procedure manual is made available in every precinct on Election Day. Poll workers can use it to quickly answer questions or concerns that may arise on Election Day.

Election challengers video