CAMPAIGN

Serve as a poll worker

Department of Elections
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Earn up to $295 helping your community vote on Election Day.

Poll workers with bilingual language skills are highly encouraged to apply! If you are a returning poll worker, please scroll down instead to access the Portal.New Poll Worker Application

Benefits of being a poll worker

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Serve your community

Being a poll worker isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to make a real impact. Poll workers are the backbone of fair and accessible elections, ensuring every voice is heard and every vote counts. By volunteering your time, you help strengthen trust in the democratic process and support your neighbors in exercising their most fundamental right. Join us and be part of something bigger, because democracy starts with you.

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Gain experience

Serving as a poll worker isn’t just about helping your community, it’s about gaining real-world experience that matters. You’ll develop skills in leadership, problem-solving, customer service, and teamwork, all qualities employers and colleges value. In fact, one-third of San Francisco’s poll workers are high school students, using this opportunity to build their college applications while making a difference. Show future schools and employers that you care about civic engagement and can handle responsibility.

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Earn a stipend

Poll workers in San Francisco receive a stipend ranging from $225 to $295 for their service on Election Day. If you’re bilingual, you can take a short language review and earn an additional bonus for helping voters in multiple languages. It’s a great way to support your community, gain valuable experience, and get paid for your time.

Poll worker stipend breakdown

Expand each section to learn more about how to earn the most, and what skills are required in each role.

Inspector

Inspectors earn between $255 and $295 for a full day of service on Election Day.

  • Inspector base pay is $255.
  • Inspectors earn a $20 bonus for retrieving election materials.
  • Bonus of $20 is possible for bilingual speakers that complete a bilingual review.

What does an Inspector do?

The Inspector oversees the setup, operations, and closure of the polling place, and supervises a team of 2 to 4 clerk poll workers. They demonstrate strong leadership skills and exceptional patience in resolving any concerns raised by voters. Inspectors are responsible for attending two mandatory training before they are eligible to serve on Election Day. If you think you have what it takes, apply now!

Clerk

Clerks earn between $225 and $245 for a full day of service on Election Day.

  • Clerk base pay is $225.
  • Bonus of $20 is possible for bilingual speakers that complete a bilingual review.

What does a clerk do?

Under the direction of the Inspector, clerk poll workers assist with site preparation in the morning and voter processing. Clerks also work on closing tasks and demonstrate strong teamwork and collaboration skills. Clerks must attend one mandatory training to serve on Election Day. Having 501 polling places staffed with enough volunteers on Election Day. Be on one of those volunteers, apply now!

How it works

1. Apply online or at our office to be a poll worker.
2. Complete your poll worker mandatory training(s).
3. Receive your polling place assignment.
4. Serve on Election Day from 6am to 10pm.
5. Receive your poll worker stipend!

Apply now!

Returning poll workers

Returning adult poll workers who have served as recently as 2022 can access the Poll Worker Portal and should not submit a new application. Returning high school poll workers or poll workers that have not served since 2022, please reapply.Poll Woker Portal

Contact information

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