ELECTION WORKER

Succes s f ul Prac tices


 


 

RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, AND RETENTION
 

2 0 1 6
 
 

INTRODUC TION 

Since the release of the groundbreaking 2007 

Successful Practices for Poll Worker Recruitment, 

Training, and Retention, election officials across the 

country have adopted new methods for recruitment, 

training, and retention of election workers. 

Social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, 

and Twitter are being increasingly used by election 

administrators to recruit, train, and stay connected 

with their force of election workers. 

In 2015, the EAC released the Quick Start 6 Tips to 

Employ Effective Poll Workers, with less text and 

more links to the latest best practices. 

However, in today’s fast-paced world the election 

administrator has even less time for reviewing 

large amounts of content, resulting in the need to 

directly connect to information almost instantly. 

Recognizing these changes, this new edition of 

the Election Worker Recruitment, Training, and 

Retention manual is divided into four sections and 

lays out the information in a quickly accessible 

format, including the latest best practices, via social 

media formats and links to websites. 

You can click on any topic and it will take you to the 

specific information you need, as field-tested by 

your colleagues.

 ELECTION WORKER SUCCESSFUL PRACTICES 2
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v ote 

TA BLE OF CON T EN T S 

INTRODUCTION 1 

Quick Look Online Manual 4 

RECRUITING POLL WORKERS 7 

Targeting the General Public 8 

Appealing to High School and College Students 13 

Finding Bilingual Workers 17 

Soliciting Help from Business, Corporate, Civic 

and Charitable Organizations 20 

Engaging the Skills of Government Workers 23 

Inviting People with Disabilities to Serve 26 

Recuiting from Political Parties 28 

POLL WORKER TRAINING 30 

Adapting Your Training Methods 31 

Taking Advantage of Technology and New Techniques 35 

Adjusting the Training Based on Performance 43 

Accounting for Changes in Voting Equipment 

Election Laws 46 

Making Use of Checklists, Manuals, and Visuals 49 

Ideas for Developing Training Manuals 52 

ELECTION WORKER RETENTION 55 

Showing You Care Helps Retain Workers 56 

Maintaining a Connection with Your Workers 59 

MANAGEMENT TIPS 62 

Using Technology to Manage Your Work Force 63 

 ELECTION WORKER SUCCESSFUL PRACTICES 3
 
 QUICK LOOK ONLINE MANUAL 4 

QUICK LOOK 

ONLINE MANUAL 

If you’re having one of “those” days and need 

some quick samples of what your colleagues 

have field-tested, scroll through the links on 

the next two pages for fast solutions to some 

common problems. Look at the entire online 

manual for lots of creative solutions and 

expanded ideas. 
 QUICK LOOK ONLINE MANUAL 5 

QUICK LOOK
 

ONLINE M A NUA L
 

To recruit the general public and high school or college 

students, click below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MgYy9r1zak 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJrSEnNw7J4 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXBgsWLnDAE 

If you’re looking for bilingual, government or civic group 

election workers, click below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXhJ61g3Isg 

http://goo.gl/f8k Xuf 

http://goo.gl/H8GHLI 

Need a quick idea for a training video, web-based training 

or online training? Click below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swTNV T-5SxM 

http://goo.gl/lkxmQf 

http://goo.gl/31LcpG 
 QUICK LOOK ONLINE MANUAL 6 

QUICK LOOK
 

ONLINE M A NUA L
 

If you’re looking for specialty training – e-poll books, 

provisional ballots or accessibility training, click below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhEu4B2C-Wk 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKo8-39rE1k 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzGL3x1f yds 

If you need some good ideas to develop a new training 

manual, click below: 

ht tp://goo.gl/r4z2i6 

http://goo.gl/fLwPt3 

To let your election workers know how important they are 

to your success, click below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abu9delLCA8 

http://goo.gl/Xgl0NL 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 7 

 

RECRUITING 

ELEC TION 

WORKERS 

Recruiting election workers for the 21st century 

requires new approaches that take advantage 

of innovative technology as well as make use of 

time-tested methods to reach all segments of 

our diverse population. 

More is required than just adequate staffing at 

the polling place. Today’s election work force 

participates not only in Election Day precincts, 

but vote centers, early voting, absentee and 

early tallying boards, recount boards, and 

post-election audits. The skill sets needed to 

carry out these activities with confidence and 

transparency requires election administrators 

to use every tool at their disposal in recruiting 

these essential workers. 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 8 

TARGE TING THE
 

GENER AL PUBLIC
 

Recruiting capable election workers requires crafting a strong 

message about your specific needs and one that reaches all 

segments of society. 

Develop a “marketing” strategy that includes the 

reasons election workers volunteer, such as civic 

duty, community service, social interaction, high 

school or college credit, family tradition, as well as 

earning extra money 

To recruit election workers with tech-sav v y skills, 

inform the public of your specific needs with a 

high-visibility notice on your website 

Develop specialized recruiting for high school 

and college students, corporations and businesses, 

civic groups, government workers, and existing 

election workers 

Be clear about what is involved in being an 

election worker 

Create flyers that target multiple groups, including 

civic, business, and student associations 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 9 

TARGE TING THE
 

GENER AL PUBLIC
 

Use well-designed brochures with a catchy slogan, 

and place in high-traffic locations 

Broadly distribute recruitment postcards and letters 

and have sign-up sheets at polling places 

Social media such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc., 

are all good ways to communicate with the public 

Consider advertising on Google, Yahoo, 

or Craigslist 

You can also get local media to run public service 

announcements 

Be prepared to respond and have a follow-up plan 

when potential workers call or email 

Make sure to track the results of your recruiting 

efforts to guide you in the future 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 10 

 

TARGE TING THE
 

GENER AL PUBLIC
 

BENEFITS 

You can target specific groups for the type of workers 

you need 

Presentations to organizations also serve voter 

education goals 

CHALLENGES 

In-person recruitment efforts can be time consuming 

Social media and email communications require 

dedicated staffing 

TIPS 

Contact past election workers 

Be specific in outlining your needs 

Compare notes with other election officials
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 11 

TARGETING THE
 

GENER AL PUBLIC
 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Brief Recruitment Messages 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MgYy9r1zak 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrU23548ZP4 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ-HLHMl3O0 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T09SG9gL X4g 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7TlUfw7wbQ 

Recruitment Messages With Job 

Requirements and Duties 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS4G9yD08NM 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNqqrwR1HTs 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0rne06usGU 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n22j-BOsU5k 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 12 

TA RGE T ING T HE
 

GENER A L PUBLIC
 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Web-Based Recruitment 

http://goo.gl/kpMMY T 

http://goo.gl/oV694t 

ht tp://goo.gl/HHyVBd 

Online Election Worker Application 

http://goo.gl/Ff80tW
 

http://goo.gl/hlv3h0
 

ht tps://goo.gl/sk1Apz 

Tracking Election Worker Applications 

http://goo.gl/2Lnoxr 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 13 

 

APPE ALING TO HIGH SCHOOL 

AND COLLEGE S TUDENT S 

High school and college students bring dynamic energy and 

essential skills to the polling place. Creating relationships 

with your local schools will help bring this energy into your 

work force and also engage students in the election process. 

Start early and take advantage of campus events so 

you can coordinate with professors and teachers and 

willing school contacts 

Partner annually with schools and professors to help 

engage students in community service and possible 

course credit 

Request a campus-wide email, Web page, or social 

media message to recruit tech-sav v y, high-energy, 

and bilingual students 

Provide information on what statutes permit student 

election workers to do and if they can be paid 

Consider providing training on campus or developing 

an app for mobile devices 

Google AdWords, Craigslist, and Facebook can be 

good ways to connect with potential election workers 

Mock or student body elections can spur interest and 

generate volunteers 

Contact the student disability office to help recruit 

students with disabilities 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 14 

APPE ALING TO HIGH SCHOOL 

AND COLLEGE S TUDENT S 

BENEFITS 

Students who commit to teachers are likely to show up 

Students are generally more comfortable with the 

latest technology 

Studies have shown that students’ energy and 

enthusiasm are well received by older election workers 

Recruiting students is another opportunity to identify 

both bilingual and disabled election workers 

Exposure to the voting process stimulates interest in 

elections and can help create lifelong voters 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 15 

APPE ALING TO HIGH SCHOOL 

AND COLLEGE S TUDENT S 

CHALLENGES 

Be prepared to spend time in your recruitment 

efforts 

Some states require additional paperwork to 

use students 

Transportation to and from the polls may be 

an issue 

Expect and plan for high turnover from semester 

to semester 

TIPS 

Students are more likely to respond to text 

messages than emails 

Partner with Political Science and Histor y 

professors, or representatives of the 

Honor Society 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 16 

 

APPEALING TO HIGH SCHOOL 

AND COLLEGE STUDENTS 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Student Recruitment 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRDfsbXh5PM 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXBgsWLnDAE 

http://goo.gl/2bjHYI 

http://goo.gl/JycgcX 

http://goo.gl/aAdtvw 

http://goo.gl/ruWvnK 

https://goo.gl/It42mP 

http://goo.gl/ksCfL4 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 17 

FINDING BILINGUAL 

WORKER S 

Bilingual election workers perform a valuable duty by 

providing language assistance to voters, enabling them to 

participate more effectively at the polls. 

Always provide election worker information on your 

website in the languages spoken in your community 

Create printed brochures and widely distribute for 

members of the minority language community who 

may not use technology as a communication tool 

Remember that many Native American languages 

may be oral and not written, so reach out to Native 

American speakers for help 

You can ask your existing election workers to help 

identif y bilingual members of the community who 

might be willing to serve 

Work actively with minority language
 

community groups
 

Identif y and include minority language media outlets 

in your efforts 

Remember to reach out to your colleges and 

universities to recruit bilingual students 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 18 

FINDING BILINGUAL 

WORKER S 

BENEFITS 

Bilingual workers satisfy federal voting rights 

requirements and they can make your polling places 

user-friendly 

You will find that many of your polling place 

operations will run more efficiently with 

bilingual speakers 

CHALLENGES 

Your minority language workers must also be 

proficient in English 

You may need to educate some election workers 

and voters on the value of bilingual election 

workers and the legal requirements to provide 

language assistance 

TIPS 

Public sector employees often have 

bilingual skills 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 19 

FINDING BILINGUAL 

WORKERS 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

FINDING BILINGUAL WORKERS 

https://goo.gl/Zl9JYe 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 20 

SOLICITING HELP FROM BUSINESS, 

CORPOR ATE, CI VIC AND 

CHARITABLE ORG ANIZ ATIONS 

Many businesses, charitable, and civic organizations are 

eager to contribute to their community through service at the 

polls on Election Day. Appealing to these groups will help you 

engage potential members who will serve at the polling place. 

A personal appearance at group meetings can be a 

highly effective recruitment tool 

Contact volunteer centers in your community to find 

election workers 

Corporate programs can help recruit
 

tech-sav v y workers
 

Ask to reach out to staff through their organization’s 

list server, HR department, or intranet 

Request that the organization create a link on their 

website to the recruiting section of your website 

Consider “Adopt a Polling Place” programs 

Be sure to maintain contacts with organizations 

between election cycles 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 21 

SOLICITING HELP FROM BUSINESS, 

CORPOR ATE, CI VIC AND 

CHARITABLE ORG ANIZ ATIONS 

BENEFITS 

A wide sweep increases general community awareness 

of the need for election workers and provides 

additional opportunities for voter education 

Broad outreach helps ensure polling places are 

fully staffed 

Your outreach programs can create added incentive 

for workers to show up on Election Day 

CHALLENGES 

You may need to provide training at the organization’s 

location 

Working with groups will require a long lead time and 

regular reminders 

Political challenges may result if organizations have 

any vested interest in certain ballot questions or 

candidates 

TIPS 

Remember to publicly recognize groups 

for participation 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 22 

SOLICITING HELP FROM BUSINESS, 

CORPOR ATE, CIVIC AND 

CHARITABLE ORGANIZ ATIONS 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Corporate Recruitment 

ht tp://goo.gl/qYyJYm 

http://goo.gl/qDMyPg 

Adopt a Polling Place 

http://goo.gl/HeGUQ1 

http://goo.gl/WI0oA7 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 23 

 

ENG AGING THE SKILL S OF
 

GOVERNMENT WORKER S
 

Recruiting public sector workers can ensure a dependable 

work force of committed, tech-sav v y, and knowledgeable 

election workers. 

Partner with your IT department to send recruitment 

emails to other government agency accounts 

Consider approaching high-profile elected officials to 

sponsor an election worker recruitment program 

Be sure to maintain contacts with government 

agencies throughout the year 

Work with your HR department to recruit recently 

retired government workers 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 24 

 

ENG AGING THE SKILL S OF
 

GOVERNMENT WORKER S
 

BENEFITS 

Government workers are tech sav v y and will 

know the importance of administrative procedures 

and statutes 

Government workers are more likely to show up 

after making a commitment to their supervisor 

CHALLENGES 

Expect to devote time in your communication efforts 

Assure supervisors you will be mindful of depleting 

their personnel 

Exercise caution in using political appointees 

TIPS 

IT departments can be a good source for 

Election Day troubleshooters 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 25 

ENGAGING THE SKILLS OF
 

GOVERNMENT WORKERS
 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Government Workers 

http://goo.gl/465lte 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 26 

INVITING PEOPLE WITH
 

DISABILITIES TO SERVE
 

By forming partnerships with representatives from the 

disability community, you can ensure your polling places 

are more accessible and welcoming to voters with disabilities. 

This sends a strong message about your commitment to 

expand the election process to all voters. 

Develop ways to partner throughout the year with 

agencies that serve the disability community 

Be prepared to offer alternative formats of 

documents that you use for recruitment and all your 

election operations 

Suggest election workers with disabilities choose the 

jobs they feel best able to perform 

Most states have an office serving people with 

disabilities. Ask them to be an active part of your 

recruitment efforts 

Use social media such as YouTube, Facebook, and 

Twitter to reach out to people with disabilities 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 27 

INVITING PEOPLE WITH
 

DISABILITIES TO SERVE
 

BENEFITS 

Election workers with disabilities can send a strong 

message of welcome to disabled voters and seniors 

with special needs 

Disabled election workers can help guide you in 

making your polling places more accessible 

CHALLENGES 

Making sure disability-friendly technology is available 

requires additional time and resources 

You will need to ensure that transportation issues 

can be met for those with physical limitations 

TIPS 

Educate all election workers on disability 

etiquette at the polls 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 28 

 

RECRUITING FROM
 

POLITIC AL PARTIES
 

Many states require a portion of election workers to be 

supplied by political parties. Making special efforts to 

recruit and train members of political parties will result in 

increased confidence in the transparency of the election 

process. 

Many state laws require election workers to be from 

political parties 

To foster and enhance your recruitment efforts, 

maintain contact with your party chairs throughout 

the year 

When parties provide lists of potential workers, 

screen for those with appropriate skills 

Request that political party websites link to your 

election worker web page 

Provide election worker recruitment forms at 

party headquarters 
RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS 29 

RECRUITING FROM
 

POLITIC AL PARTIES
 

BENEFITS 

This outreach can foster a good working relationship 

with political parties 

This vein of recruitment strengthens election 

officials’ education efforts as political parties may not 

understand/realize the rigorous nature of the process 

Recruiting from political parties increases voter 

opinions of transparency and integrity of the process 

CHALLENGES 

May require extra emphasis in training on nonpartisan nature of polls 

Party members may only want to work in high-profile 

elections 

TIPS 

Offer training at party headquarters and 

emphasize the non-par tisan aspects of 

Election Day ser vice 
 

 

ELEC T ION
 

WORK ER
 

T R A INING
 

vote 

Online election worker training has been successful 

in many states and local offices in recent years. It 

can offer the benefits of flexible timing for workers 

and measurable results for officials. It can also 

educate workers on everything from machine setup to policies and procedures to closing operations. 

An online option also offers self-paced training, 

which many workers find convenient. 

Remember, however, that not all election workers 

learn best in a computerized setting. Election 

officials understand that there are a wide variety 

of learning methods, from reading and listening 

to hands on, and you’ll want to incorporate all of 

these methods into successful training programs. 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 30
 
vote

 

 

ADAPTING YOUR 

TRAINING METHODS 

By constantly adapting your training methods to appreciate 

the different methods of adult learning and stay up to date 

with changes in law or technology, you will achieve a more 

engaged, knowledgeable, and confident pool of workers 

serving on Election Day. 

Develop training to recognize different 

adult learning styles: reading (manuals, 

visual aids, workbooks); listening (lectures, 

interactive question-and-answer sessions, slide 

presentations); watching (typical polling place 

scenarios, Election Day simulation videos, or 

YouTube videos) 

Develop a training section on polling place 

accessibility 

Consider augmenting your in-person training with 

online training to accommodate an increasing 

number of tech-savvy workers 

Focus your training efforts on the critical 

subject areas 

Give special attention to new procedures or 

equipment 

Use plain language in training and in manuals, 

forms, and checklists 

Remember to offer hands-on training with e-poll 

books and voting equipment 

ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 31
 
vote

 

ADAPTING YOUR 

TRAINING METHODS 

Constantly review your training manuals, election 

supply lists, forms, checklists, and visual aids to 

ensure they are accurate and up to date 

Consider providing targeted training for new workers, 

high school and college students, troubleshooters, 

and polling place supervisors 

Develop specialized training for vote centers and 

early voting sites 

After each election, evaluate your training methods 

and consider what works and what doesn’t 

ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 32
 
vote

 

ADAPTING YOUR
 

TRAINING METHODS
 

BENEFITS 

Competent and self-assured election workers give 

voters confidence in the electoral process 

More effort in training results in less error and 

confusion on the part of election workers and voters 

CHALLENGES 

Developing effective training programs will require 

a commitment of time and energy 

Deciding which important areas to cover (given time 

limitations and short attention spans) may present 

difficult choices 

Engaging long-time workers who may be less willing 

to learn new processes will require extra attention 

during training 

TIPS 

Consistently reach out to election workers 

for feedback on the training 

ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 33
 
vote

 

A DA P T ING YO UR 

T R A INING ME T HODS 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Training Intro by Election Administrator 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT0sCEBZ0To 

Overall Training Review 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swTNV T-5SxM 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejKJkudHL_k 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpPHu0PXLgE 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 34
 
vote

 

 

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF 

TECHNOLOGY AND NE W TECHNIQUES 

The revolution in available technology is not limited to just 

election management tools. New approaches such as online 

training, Web-based communication, and social media have 

increased the opportunities to reach all your workers with 

training designed to meet their individual needs. 

Make DVDs as well as online videos available on all 

training topics 

You can create short YouTube videos that show 

machine operations, necessary supplies, and Election 

Day opening and closing procedures 

Use YouTube videos to focus on specific Election Day 

activities, as this allows workers to choose the areas 

where they may need additional review. These videos 

are cost-effective and can be easily updated 

Consider creating an election library on your website 

and include training brochures, manuals, reports, 

and checklists, as well as links to your YouTube 

training videos 

Provide manuals that have online search capability 

Use pop quizzes in online applications to monitor 

effectiveness and track workers’ progress 

Consider an election worker blog or newsletter 

Take advantage of other social media opportunities 

such as Facebook and Twitter 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 35
 
vote

 

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF 

TECHNOLOGY AND NE W TECHNIQUES 

BENEFITS 

Training with online videos and DVDs appeals to
 

both reading and visual learners
 

Online training reaches both reading and visual
 

learners
 

Videos, DVDs, and online training allow workers 

to set their own pace and revisit topics wher they 

feel they may need additional reinforcement 

Online training and material on your website can
 

be easily updated
 

You can readily monitor performance and assess
 

areas needing additional work
 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 36
 
vote

 

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF 

TECHNOLOGY AND NEW TECHNIQUES 

CHALLENGES 

Requires an initial investment of both time and 

money for development of online programs, videos, 

and DVDs 

Not all workers will be comfortable with new 

technology and it does not replace in-person training 

TIPS 

Use mobile apps to inform election workers of 

training times and dates, and post on your website 

Provide access at polling places to computers and 

tablets that house critical information on Election 

Day scenarios and problem solving 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 37
 
vote

 

TA KING A DVA N TAG E OF 

T EC HN OLO G Y A ND NE W T EC HNI Q U E S 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Training Techniques 

http://goo.gl/jsXhIZ 

http://goo.gl/rilXvV 

http://goo.gl/vHJuFz 

http://goo.gl/dwvp8A 

Web-Based Training Portal 

http://goo.gl/asmWH3 

http://goo.gl/QW1Se2 

http://goo.gl/4eaIi2 

http://goo.gl/5sgOqq 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 38
 
vote

 

TA KING A DVA N TAGE OF 

T ECHNOLOG Y A ND NE W T ECHNIQUE S 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Online Training 

http://goo.gl/FWD0Cz 

Specialty Training
 

Opening the Polls
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FbHgZBXmOI 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvWEpkU1mwE 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5P5ShNoELU 

Processing Voters 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkcT3jEsXPA 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIuS8iBt2hc 

Closing the Polls 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAnxyFDi2YM 

http://goo.gl/18tSnH 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 39
 
vote

 

 

 

TA KING A DVA N TAGE OF 

T ECHNOLOG Y A ND NE W T ECHNIQUE S 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Setting Up Voting Equipment 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tg3flMJvgo 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzkw8l4HcXU 

Opening Voting Equipment 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxWuNIPgGnk 

Closing Voting Equipment 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EntssRV8gPQ 

Using Electronic Poll Books 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhEu4B2C-Wk 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTlS8FuP_UY 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjLT8Sz3KPg 

Role Playing Scenarios 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25OpQs9iL4k 

Practice Makes Perfect 

http://goo.gl/jEV4PT 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 40
 
vote

 

 

TA KING A DVA N TAG E OF 

T EC HN OLO G Y A ND NE W T EC HNI Q U E S 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Issuing Provisional Ballots 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWFeOyzElAw 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmK TBrORFik 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKo8-39rE1k 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVN0zca1jnc 

Accessibility 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzGL3x1fyds 

http://goo.gl/R2qcQT 

http://goo.gl/ouZCNq 

Language Needs 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHtlgFZb0S8 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXhJ61g3Isg 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 41
 
vote

 

TA KING A DVA N TAGE OF 

T ECHNOLOG Y A ND NE W T ECHNIQUE S 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Polling Place Trouble Shooter 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uM4YS2MoNc 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQiBlSv2-og 

Vote Centers 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjnbpZUKu74 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 42
 
vote

 

ADJUS TING THE TR AINING
 

BA SED ON PERFORMANCE
 

By evaluating your training program on a regular basis and 

monitoring the performance of your election workers, you can 

determine what training is effective and where content might 

be improved to increase performance. 

Survey your election workers frequently to see what 

works and what doesn’t with your training methods. 

Listen to what they say 

Assign a super visor to check workers’ interaction 

with voters and use trouble reports to monitor 

performance 

Monitor attendance at training sessions to get an 

idea of interest and commitment come 

Election Day 

Use pop quizzes and role-playing scenarios to find 

topics that may need more attention 

Collect data from previous election error reports or 

troubleshooter reports to evaluate your training and 

adjust accordingly 

Monitor problems with opening and closing the polls, 

provisional ballots, and end-of-day paperwork to 

evaluate where additional training is necessary 

Remember to exercise sensitivity in dealing with 

problems and offer constructive feedback, keeping 

criticism general rather than personal 

Determine if outsourcing some of your training 

is appropriate 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 43
 
vote

 

ADJUS TING THE TR AINING
 

BA SED ON PERFORMANCE
 

BENEFITS 

Constant evaluation of your training will determine 

effectiveness and create an enhanced sense of 

accountability and teamwork 

Worker performance will help guide where training 

improvement is needed 

Data that is generated through training evaluations 

will support funding requests for additional training 

CHALLENGES 

Expect to spend time in evaluating performance reports 

Specialized training will require additional staffing 

time and resources, and the development of a 

management database 

Enhanced training may be necessary to address 

areas where workers have experienced difficulties 

TIPS 

Consider pairing experienced and new workers 

at both training sessions and polling places 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 44
 
vote

 

A DJ US T IN G T HE T R A ININ G
 

B A SED O N PER F O R M A NCE
 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Improving Election Worker Performance 

http://goo.gl/6FXLa7 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 45
 
vote

 

ACCOUNTING F OR CHANGES 

IN VOTING EQUIPMENT 

AND ELEC TION L AWS 

Changes in both equipment and law are the “new normal” in 

election administration. Adapting your training to accommodate 

these changes is a critical factor in the success of your elections 

and the confidence of your election workers, staff, and voters. 

Remember that changes to technology or law may 

affect more than one area of polling place operations 

Consider deadlines in your planning and remember 

that moving one deadline may have a domino effect 

and disrupt many others 

Test the usability of all training and polling place 

materials before training is scheduled 

Train everyone on the changes: media, staff, elected 

officials, candidates, election workers, and voters 

Evaluate the quality of your instruction and get 

feedback from election workers and staff 

Ensure that your call center support staff is 

knowledgeable in all aspects of any new technology 

or changes to law 

Consider using IT staff or create a specific election 

worker position to help with technology changes 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 46
 
vote

 

ACCOUNTING F OR CHANGES 

IN VOTING EQUIPMENT 

AND ELEC TION L AWS 

BENEFITS 

Election workers and staff will have more confidence 

in their performance knowing they have the most upto-date information 

A well-versed staff results in enhanced voter 

confidence 

CHALLENGES 

There is always increased scrutiny from candidates 

and voters with any rollout of new technology 

Training in changes to technology or law will require 

additional time and planning efforts 

TIPS 

Careful advance planning can minimize last 

minute chaos and stress 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 47
 
vote

 

ACCOUNTING FOR CHANGES 

IN VOTING EQUIPMENT 

AND ELEC TION L AWS 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Demonstration of New Voting Machines 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27CDqH40jts 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 48
 
vote

 

MAKING USE OF MANUAL S,
 

VISUA L S , AND CHECKLIS TS
 

Creating checklists, job guides, and visual aids for election 

workers will ensure that important information is conveyed 

and available for use on Election Day. 

Review all forms, training manuals, and management 

checklists for changes and usability 

Develop polling place opening and closing flow charts 

with important one-page reminder sheets on each 

part of the voting process 

Put all checklists, manuals, and visuals on your 

website and consider DVDs for take-home study 

Diagram a layout of a “perfect polling place” 

Create checklists for special situations such as 

disgruntled voters, provisional voters, disabled 

voters, senior citizens, and bilingual voters 

Create flow charts to address a variety of scenarios 

and use of voting equipment 

Use poster-sized signs in a prominent location to 

convey critical information 

Use simple, not complex illustrations 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 49
 
vote

 

MAKING USE OF MANUAL S,
 

VISUA L S , AND CHECKLIS TS
 

BENEFITS 

Checklists or diagrams help explain and simplify 

Having a reference helps reassure election workers 

and creates more confident workers 

Visual aids can provide important reminders and 

reinforce critical topics 

CHALLENGES 

Frequent document revisions may be necessary, 

depending on the type of election 

You will need different documents for vote centers 

and early voting 

You may have to enlist help from a designer, editor, 

or usability consultant 

TIPS 

Remember that diagrams, photos, and 

graphics help visual learners 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 50
 
vote

 

MAKING USE OF MANUALS,
 

VISUALS, AND CHECKLISTS
 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Flow Charts 

http://goo.gl/5RE2Yl 

Election Worker Picture Guide 

https://goo.gl/FG1egu 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 51
 
vote

 

 

IDE A S FOR DE VELOPING 

A TR AINING MANUAL 

Taking the steps necessary to design a user-friendly training 

manual with clear, simple language is critical to the success 

of your election work force. 

Keep the needs of the end users in mind and consult 

with your election workers on content and style for 

the training manual 

Use an easy-to-read font such as Arial, Verdana, or 

Courier, in no smaller than 12-point size 

Use bullets or a numbered list rather than large 

blocks of text 

Present information in a way that makes sense, 

either chronologically or by specific task 

Use simple words and gender-neutral language in 

your instructions 

When bringing attention to a particular unwanted 

scenario, describe the action before describing its 

consequences 

Make information easy to find either by creating tabs 

or a detailed Table of Contents 

Note that diagrams are more effective than 

photographs for most processes 

Photographs work best to show machine details 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 52
 
vote

 

IDE A S FOR DE VELOPING 

A TR AINING MANUAL 

BENEFITS 

An easy-to-follow training manual allows for more 

confident and self-assured election workers and 

increased voter confidence 

Clearly written instructions will minimize critical 

errors during polling place operations 

CHALLENGES 

The content will require frequent review and 

updating 

Keeping the guide relevant and user-friendly 

may require consulting with design or writing 

professionals 

TIPS 

You can keep the document looking 

uncluttered by using large amounts of white 

space to balance the text 

Include your office support number at the top 

or bottom of each page 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 53
 
vote

 

 

IDE A S F O R DE V ELO PI NG 

A T R A IN I NG MA N UA L 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Developing a Training Manual 

http://goo.gl/jCuu6b 

http://goo.gl/fajhgz 

http://goo.gl/pSVvTh 

ht tp://goo.gl/4K64zH 

http://goo.gl/Hu8Y Xj 

ht tp://goo.gl/1Cojuv 

http://goo.gl/GzQAOJ 

http://goo.gl/BELiai 

 ELECTION WORKER TRAINING 54
 
 ELECTION WORKER RETENTION 55 

 

 

ELEC T ION 

WORK ER 

R E TENTI ON 

Keeping good election workers requires cultivation 

of a strong relationship with your work force. The 

efforts you make will yield benefits election after 

election and result in a confident and successful 

group of workers. 

When you evaluate your workers and listen to 

them, you can learn valuable lessons about your 

recruitment and training techniques and where 

additional efforts are needed. Good training and 

ample appreciation will have your workers coming 

back for many elections and help your office 

conduct elections that convey integrity and instill 

confidence in your voters. 
 ELECTION WORKER RETENTION 56 

 

SHOWING YOU C A RE 

HELPS RE TAIN WORKER S 

Showing appreciation to your workers will yield a confident 

and successful group of workers and keep them returning to 

help your office conduct elections. 

Recognize the time commitment on the part of 

the election worker and say “thank you” at every 

opportunity 

Pay your workers accurately and in a timely manner 

Have special meetings with elected officials to 

present certificates of appreciation and honor longserving workers 

Invite media to special recognition ceremonies to 

increase community awareness 

Give special recognition to deserving workers at 

training sessions and acknowledge excellence 

Consider awarding door prizes at training sessions to 

boost attendance 

If your budget permits, purchase tote bags with your 

jurisdiction logo, coffee cups, chair cushions, or 

service pins 

Provide excellent Election Day staff support to 

answer any questions that may come up 
 ELECTION WORKER RETENTION 57 

SHOWING YOU C A RE 

HELPS RE TAIN WORKER S 

BENEFITS 

A little appreciation goes a long way in creating a 

loyal and dedicated work force 

Public ceremonies will reinforce the value 

of service 

CHALLENGES 

Recognition ceremonies require staff organization 

time and effort 

Additional cost is incurred for refreshments and 

door prizes or awards 

TIPS 

Serving beverages or snacks during training 

classes will increase energy and enthusiasm 
 ELECTION WORKER RETENTION 58 

SHOW ING YOU C A R E 

HELP S RE TA IN WOR K ER S 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Thank You for Being An Election Worker 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abu9delLCA8 
 ELECTION WORKER RETENTION 59 

 

MAINTAINING A CONNEC TION 

WITH YOUR WORKER S 

When you communicate with your election workers between 

elections, you let them know that they are an important part 

of your team and that you value their service. 

Create an election worker newsletter, post it on your 

website, and use it to say “Thank You” 

Include information for workers on your website on 

upcoming elections and training dates 

Instill a sense of “Teamwork” and let workers know 

your success depends on them 

Hand out a printed election worker newsletter 

at trainings 

Use email for newsletter distribution where possible 

to reduce costs 

Create an election worker “Satisfaction” survey and 

be ready to respond to results 

Devise a list of FAQs (key dates, changes in election 

laws or procedures, etc.) for workers and post on 

your website 
 ELECTION WORKER RETENTION 60 

MAINTAINING A CONNEC TION 

WITH YOUR WORKER S 

BENEFITS 

Your efforts will result in conveying value and a 

sense of community 

Frequent communication between elections 

results in better communication on Election Day 

CHALLENGES 

Communication efforts will require some expense 

as far as staff time and resources 

TIPS 

When you communicate with your election 

workers between elections, you let them 

know that they are an important part of 

your team and that you value their ser vice 
 ELECTION WORKER RETENTION 61 

M A IN TA INING A CONNEC T ION 

W I T H YOUR WOR K ER S 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Election Worker Newsletter 

http://goo.gl/DSfsI6
 

http://goo.gl/y9PRLS
 

http://goo.gl/EijyJQ
 

http://goo.gl/zizWy t
 

http://goo.gl/BHzsk7
 

http://goo.gl/98wQqp
 
 MANAGEMENT TIPS 62 

 

MA N AG EMEN T 

T IP S 

Managing recruitment, training and retention 

of your election work force can be one of your 

most time consuming tasks. Election worker 

management software is a welcome addition to the 

recent technological advances available to election 

administrators. 

New software management systems can help 

with the process of recruitment, training, tracking 

performance and payment of your workers. These 

systems can also assist you in evaluating polling 

sites for accessibility and set up a method to 

cont ac t building super visors. 

Finding an election management software system 

or developing your own system in-house, can result 

in increased efficiency and effective use of staff 

resources. 
 MANAGEMENT TIPS 63 

USING TECHNOLOGY TO 

MANAGE YOUR WORK FORCE 

Many election administrators have learned that new database 

systems can aid in streamlining the process of managing 

election workers. These new systems are designed to address 

every aspect of training, performance, and work history. 

Easily manage and track both training and polling 

place assignments on your database 

Monitor election worker attendance at trainings 

Maintain a history of polling place assignments and 

worker performance 

You can create a tracking program for bilingual 

workers and match them to polling places where 

their skills are needed 

You can also use the system to identify disabled 

workers who may have transportation issues or need 

other assistance 

Set up a system that will auto-dial, reminding 

workers of training classes or to give Election Day 

wake-up calls 

Create both email lists and drop-in templates for 

frequent communication or newsletters 

Develop online surveys that can be emailed to your 

workers and processed automatically as completed 

Set up a budget and payment system for your 

election workers 
 MANAGEMENT TIPS 64 

USING TECHNOLOGY TO 

MANAGE YOUR WORK FORCE 

BENEFITS 

Achieve greater efficiency in election worker 

management by automating certain tasks and 

processes 

Your election workers benefit from increased 

monitoring and accountability 

CHALLENGES 

Requires additional expense in purchase or 

development if the software is not already part of 

your voter file 

Both staff and election workers will need to be 

trained in use of the system 

TIPS 

Designate staff as database software support