You may obtain Form #SS-4507, Application for Certification of Municipal Clerks & Recorders and Continuing Education Credit, from our website or upon request from our office. 

For certification, the application must be accompanied by a copy of the certificate(s) from the institution(s) at which the qualifications were completed.  The certificate(s) (other than a degree) should indicate the number of hours completed.  If credit is claimed for job-related seminars, then documents must also be submitted outlining seminar content. 

For continuing education credit, the application must be accompanied by a copy of the certificate(s) of attendance and a statement as to the number of credit hours completed.  If credit is claimed for job-related seminars, then documents must also be submitted outlining seminar content. Please note that the Division of Business Services does not pre-certify seminars for content applicability or for applicable credit hours. Applications are accepted by mail, fax or in person. Upon receipt and approval of an application, the Division of Business Services will issue to the applicant a certificate confirming the certification or continuing education credit. 

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.

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.

A municipality with a population of 1,500 or more according to the 1990 Federal Census or any subsequent Federal Census, which employs an officer or employee responsible for exercising any of the duties of Municipal Clerk & Recorder, must have at least one certified person.   For other municipalities, certification is optional. 

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.

To retain certification, a certified person is required to attend a minimum of  18  hours of continuing education courses every  3  years.   This requirement may be met by attending a minimum of 18 credit hours from any of the following or combination thereof, provided that the hours were not used to complete the required hours of education for certification: 

• The Academy for Advanced Education (U.T.);
• The International Institute of Municipal Clerks annual conference or state, provincial or regional clerks meetings;
• Seminars conducted by the Tennessee Municipal League;
• Leadership and Technical Programs (U.T. Municipal Training); or 
• Job-related seminars.

• Any person who is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and who satisfies continuing legal education requirements  
• Any person who has been appointed or is acting in the capacity of  a city manager or administrator and who possesses a M.A. degree in public administration  
• Any person who is a certified public accountant holding a certificate as provided in Section 62-1-106 or Section 6-1-107
• Any person who has served as both a city judge and city recorder for at least 25 years

To be certified, a person must obtain certification from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks or must complete a minimum of 100 credit hours from any of the following or combination thereof:

• The Municipal Clerks Institute (U.T.); 
• The U.T. Center for Government Training
• Seminars conducted by the Tennessee Municipal League;  
• Leadership and Technical Programs (U.T. Municipal Training); 
• Job-related seminars; or 
• An A.A. or A.S. degree (maximum credit of 25 hours) or a B.A. or B.S. degree (maximum credit of 50 hours), provided that credit will be given for only one degree.