Normally poll workers report to work one hour before polls open and leave one hour after the poll closes. Check with your county election commission for more information.

To be a poll worker, a person must:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Be a registered voter in the county if 18 or older
• Be able to read and write in the English language
• Not be supervised by a county or municipal elected official on the ballot
• Not be a candidate or close relative of a candidate. Close relatives are defined as the spouse, parent, father-in-law, mother-in-law, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece of a candidate on the ballot or a write-in candidate

Government Employees Who Can Serve as Poll Worker:

• All City, County and Metro employees (unless working directly under the supervision of an elected official on the ballot)
• State of Tennessee employees
• Federal employees – consult your Human Resources Department to ensure eligibility

A poll worker shall also:

• Have strong clerical skills
• Be able to solve problems
• Be an effective communicator

If you are interested in becoming a poll worker, apply by filling out an application form. Poll workers are appointed locally based on need.

We think it’s great you are interested in serving on one of Tennessee’s many boards and commissions!

To inquire about serving on a specific board, please reach out to the appointing authority of that board.

If you are unsure of the appointing authority, you can search our Boards and Commissions page here. Some boards have multiple appointing authorities, by clicking on a specific member’s name, you can see who is responsible for appointing a person to that particular position.

County Election Commissions are required by state law to provide training. This training provides all the necessary information and knowledge to be a successful poll worker.

Poll workers are compensated for working at polling places at a rate determined by the county election commission and are also compensated for attending any required training sessions. Poll workers may also choose to volunteer their services, but most are paid.

Every effort is made to assign a poll workers to their neighborhood voting site. However, poll workers must be willing to be flexible and consider assignments at other sites in the county based on need.

Yes. State employees may become poll workers.

Poll workers conduct assigned duties at a polling site during early voting and on Election Day. Duties can include processing voters, explaining how to mark a ballot, use the voting equipment, or counting votes. Other positions at a polling place include a greeter who assists with answering questions and directing voters to the voting area.