2023 New York Laws › ELN - Election › Article 3 - Election Officials › Title 4 - Election Inspectors and Poll Clerks › 3-412 - Election Inspectors and Poll Clerks; Training.

§ 3-412. Election inspectors and poll clerks; training.  1. Each board
  of elections shall, at least once every year, conduct a mandatory school
  for  the  instruction  of  election inspectors, poll clerks and election
  coordinators. Such instruction may be  given  in  person  or  online  at
  various  times  throughout  the  year,  provided that online instruction
  shall be offered over a two week  period  that  includes  the  date  for
  in-person instruction. Such training shall be offered no less frequently
  than  on  a quarterly basis. Certain online participants may be required
  to  supplement  online  instruction  with  in-person  instruction   that
  includes   the  use  of  voting  machines  or  other  matters  requiring
  specialized training. Written notice  shall  be  given  to  participants
  stating  the time and place at which such in-person instruction shall be
  held, the option to obtain instruction online with direction on  how  to
  access  the  online  option,  and identifying the participants that must
  attend in-person instruction in addition to online instruction.
1-a. The state board of elections shall  establish  a  mandatory  core
  curriculum  for  poll worker training which includes the requirements in
  subdivision two of this section, and the rights of voters at  the  polls
  and  obligation  of  election  workers  to  protect  those  rights while
  maintaining the integrity of the franchise, including  assisting  voters
  with  disabilities  or  with  limited  or  no proficiency in the English
  language, handling, processing and  entitlement  to  ballots,  including
  affidavit  and  emergency  ballots,  proper identification requirements,
  procedures to be followed with respect to voters whose names are not  on
  the  list  of  registered  voters  or  whose  identities  have  not been
  verified, electioneering and other violations of the elective  franchise
  as  defined  in  this chapter, solicitation by individuals and groups at
  the polling place and procedures to be followed after the  polls  close.
  Each  board  of  elections  shall augment the core curriculum with local
  procedures not inconsistent with the  core  curriculum  adopted  by  the
  state  board  of  elections  and  which  includes procedures relating to
  proper operation of, and remedying problems with, the voting machine  or
  system in use in that jurisdiction.
1-b.  The  state  board  of  elections  shall  establish  and  host an
  education and training institute which  shall  be  responsible  for  the
  development  and  implementation  of a statewide program wherein persons
  can become certified poll worker trainers.  This  institute  shall  also
  create  a  train-the-trainer  program,  in  order  for  county boards of
  elections to implement an effective training program at their respective
  local level of  program  delivery.  The  state  board's  trainers  shall
  include  in  the trainer curriculum to be developed, attention to, inter
  alia, poll worker ability to serve a diverse  electorate  with  complete
  confidence  and  respect; professionalizing the delivery of all election
  day services; providing assistance to voters with disabilities and those
  with limited English language  proficiency,  ensuring  the  dignity  and
  privacy  of  such  individuals;  and  to  individuals who are members of
  racial or ethnic minorities, complete familiarity and comfort  with  all
  voting systems in use in poll sites, including ballot marking devices or
  other  systems/services  available to voters with disabilities; and poll
  worker ability to recognize and resolve a variety of  issues  which  may
  arise  in  poll sites. The state board's trainers and all certified poll
  worker instructors shall  utilize  industry-proven  training  techniques
  aimed  at  adult  learners  including  role-based  training and hands-on
  training opportunities using official election day forms and  poll  site
  voting  systems  and  may  further  include  a  web-based  component and
  companion video.
1-c. County boards shall  enroll  trainers  in  the  program  in  such
  quantities  to  ensure  that an adequate contingent of fully trained and

  certified poll worker trainers are available to meet the training  needs
  of  such  county.  Each  county board of elections shall enroll not less
  than two persons designated by the county board on a  bipartisan  basis,
  in  the  state board of elections training institute. Certified trainers
  must maintain their certification by attending once every two  years,  a
  continuing  education program, to ensure the professionalism of the poll
  worker training agenda set by the state board  of  elections.  Enrollees
  who  have  successfully completed the state board's training program and
  been awarded a "certified poll worker instructor" certificate may  serve
  at the county board as a trainer of poll workers as well as a trainer of
  other  bi-partisan designees of the county board, however the conferring
  of the title "certified poll worker instructor" may be made only by  the
  state board of elections.
1-d.  The  state  board  of  elections  shall  adopt  such  rules  and
  regulations which may be necessary to create the training institute  and
  associated curricula provided for in subdivisions one-a, one-b and one-c
  of  this section, including a process whereby attendees who successfully
  complete a state board-sponsored training program  shall  be  awarded  a
  certificate  conferring  upon  him  or her, the title of "certified poll
  worker instructor".
2. Election inspectors, poll clerks and election coordinators shall be
  instructed concerning, but not limited to,  the  following  topics:  the
  election   law  and  any  relevant  statutory  updates,  the  taking  of
  registrations,  the  use  of  voting  machines,  disability   etiquette,
  affidavit  and emergency voting processes, use of electronic poll books,
  providing assistance to voters with limited English language proficiency
  and their duties in connection therewith as soon as possible after their
  designation.
3. Election inspectors,  poll  clerks  and  election  coordinators  as
  required  by  this  section  shall, upon their original designation, and
  every year thereafter, complete a course  of  instruction,  and,  before
  certification,  pass  an  examination thereon. Such examination shall be
  given both online and in person, provided that those participants  whose
  instructions  include  the  use  of  voting  machines  or  other matters
  requiring specialized training may be required to pass an examination on
  such matters in person. The state board of elections shall  supply  each
  board  of  elections  with  instructional  material  to  be  used in the
  preparation for such examinations and shall  give  each  such  board  of
  elections uniform directions for the conduct of such examinations, which
  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  board to follow. Every such board may
  utilize  additional  materials  selected  by  it  in   the   course   of
  instruction.  No  person  taking  such examination shall be permitted to
  know the questions or answers in advance  or  be  given  access  to  the
  answers  during  the  examination.  If  such  inspectors, poll clerks or
  coordinators pass such examination, the board of elections shall certify
  the designated election inspector, poll clerk or coordinator.
4. The county board of elections shall within two weeks  notify  those
  who have passed the examination, that they are certified to serve.
5.  Each  board of elections shall reproduce a booklet of instructions
  for participants prepared by the state board of  elections.  A  copy  of
  such  booklet, or digital version, shall be given to each participant at
  the time such participant attends the course of  instruction.  At  least
  one  copy  of  such  booklet shall be included with the supplies sent to
  each election district for each election and day of local registration.