Donate for Democracy Poll Worker Frequently Asked Questions:
On Election Day, the poll workers it takes to run Indiana's 5500 precincts are often in short supply. Over 30,000 volunteers are needed to ensure Hoosiers a smooth day at the polls. Many poll workers have been shouldering the responsibility of supporting our democracy for 30 or even 40 years. It is time for others to rise to the challenge and participate.
The Secretary of State's Office would like you to join us in the state's first poll workers for charity program called, "Donate for Democracy." People are encouraged to volunteer on Election Day and use their poll worker stipend to support their favorite charity or faith institution. This program gives you the opportunity to volunteer while earning money for your favorite charity at the same time.
Poll workers, including: inspectors, judges, poll clerks and sheriffs are needed to staff the polling places on Election Day-checking names of voters on the rolls, ensuring the voting systems are functioning properly and processing each precinct's vote to county authorities. Training is provided by county election administrators to prepare workers for these tasks.
The Requirements:
- Poll workers must meet a few simple criteria to participate:
- A volunteer must be a registered voter and resident of the county in which he or she wishes to participate; and
- A volunteer must be at least 18 years old
- In some counties, 16 and 17 year olds have been approved to work the polls. Please call your county clerk's office or county election board for more information.
- Volunteers will be required to attend training in most cases and required to work the polls on Election Day from 6 am to 6 pm and during the time that ballots are tabulated at the polling place.
- In some counties poll workers can work as a team, sharing the day between two friends, colleagues or family members including Marion County.
Depending on the county and the job of the poll worker most make from $75 to $125 for their time on Election Day and their time spent in training.
Volunteers will need to sign up by either completing the registration form included in the informational brochure or by singing up on the Secretary of State's website at http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/hava/poll_worker_recruitment.html. Volunteers will be added to the party's list of available workers. If selected, poll workers will be placed in a precinct within their county. Depending on the need poll workers will not always be place within their neighborhood, but they will always be within the county and within their chosen political party.
Poll workers will be notified by their party of their placement and where they will serve on Election Day. A short training session will be conducted by the county election board in order to prepare for the work required. After working on Election Day volunteers will be paid by the county (most often the county Auditor or the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk). Poll workers can either endorse that check directly to the charity or organization of their choice, or poll workers can endorse the checks over to the church and issue one, larger check to the organization.
Yes, poll workers who donate their poll worker stipends to charity may claim that donation as a deduction on their income tax returns according to the parameters set by the IRS. Please consult your private accountant for further details.
If you have any questions, please contact the office of the Indiana Secretary of State's Help America Vote Office Director, Julia Bauler at 317-232-6541 or jbauler@sos.in.gov
This document is meant to provide general guidelines and should not be used as legal tax advice.
