Becoming a poll worker is one of the most concrete, high‑impact ways you can protect free and fair elections in Texas beyond just voting and donating. Counties rely on trained workers to run primary and general elections, and once you are trained you can be called for this year’s primaries and future elections too.
Poll workers (also called election workers or clerks) keep our polling places open, accessible, and running smoothly. Without enough trained workers, counties may have to close or consolidate locations, leading to longer lines and more barriers for working‑class voters, disabled voters, and communities of color. Serving as a poll worker means helping your neighbors cast their ballots securely and confidently, especially in highn turnout or high tension elections.
Across Texas, poll workers typically:
Set up and close down voting equipment and signage at polling places.
Help maintain a calm, orderly environment and report issues to election officials.
These roles are paid positions in most Texas counties, and training is provided. Exact pay and shift options are set locally and listed on your county election office website.
While details vary by county, Texas generally requires that poll workers:
Be a registered voter in the county where they serve (with some exceptions for student election clerks).
Be able to attend a mandatory training session and work on Election Day and/or during early voting.
Not be a current candidate on the ballot or an employee of a candidate at that election.
High school students aged 16 or older may qualify as student election clerks with parental and school permission.
Both major parties and nonpartisan county election offices draw from the same pool of trained workers, so once you sign up through your county you can be matched where you are needed most.
Here’s a simple path you can follow today:
Start with the state resource
Visit the official “Become an Election Worker in Texas” page on VoteTexas.gov, which explains roles, eligibility, and how counties use trained workers.
Contact your county election office
Search “[Your County] Texas poll worker” and go directly to your county elections or county clerk website.
Look for pages labeled “Elections,” “Election Worker,” “Poll Worker,” or “Election Officials” and complete the online interest form or application with your contact information, party preference (for judge appointments), and availability.
Complete training and confirm your assignment
After you apply, your county will contact you about training sessions, which are required before you can work an election.
Once trained, you may be scheduled for Election Day and, in many counties, for early voting shifts as well, so applying now helps counties staff upcoming primaries and future elections.
State of Texas – Become an Election Worker 🔗
Overview of roles, requirements, and training for Texas election workers.