Election Worker - Program Overview

What is an Election Worker

Election Workers are registered Maryland voters who volunteer to assist voters during elections. About 4,000 volunteers are needed for each election. They assist in safeguarding integrity of the process and to ensure the fair and efficient operation of in-person voting at 14 early voting centers and 231election day polling places in Montgomery County. They also help collect and count ballots cast by mail, at nursing homes, or placed in drop boxes.

Election Worker Roles

There are different roles you can volunteer for:

  • Election Judges - Assist in facilitating in-person voting during Early Voting or on Election Day
  • Drop Box Runners – Pick up mail-in ballots from drop boxes
  • Canvassers – Help count mail-in ballots
  • Nursing Home Program Participants – Help voters in designated nursing homes

Some service positions are all day, and others are part of the day. Some positions require experience or a car.

View a complete list of all Early Voting and Election Day Roles

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Qualifications

To participate you must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen and registered to vote in Maryland.
  • Be 16 years or older. If you are under 18, you will need a signed Permission slip .
  • Successfully complete all training.
  • Not be legally prohibited from entering onto the property of a school or being near children.
  • Speak, read, and write English clearly.
  • Not be a campaign manager or campaign treasurer
  • Not currently holding or running for elected office.
  • Be able to work the full hours of your assigned role.
  • Be able to lift about 25 pounds with help
  • Be kind and patient with voters and fellow volunteers.

Election Worker Code of Conduct

To ensure that Montgomery County citizens are provided with the best election experience, we ask that Election Workers adhere to the Election Worker Code of Conduct (COC) which governs individual responsibilities and polling place behavior. Violation of the Codes of Conduct may result in removal from the Montgomery County Election Worker program. The Code of Conduct will be reviewed and signed in training.

Election Workers must follow the Code of Conduct. You will learn about these rules and sign them during training. Violation of the Codes of Conduct may result in removal from the Election Worker Program

Bilingual Election Workers

Every polling place must have one (1) volunteer bilingual in Spanish to help voters, as required by law (Voting Rights Act, Section 203). Besides volunteers who speak Spanish, we also need volunteers who speak Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, French and other languages to help voters who request language assistance when voting.

Stipend and Returning Bonus

Election Workers receive a stipend for their training and service based on their position. To get paid, you must:

  • Provide your full Social Security Number.
  • Successfully complete all training.
  • Fulfill assigned election duties.

If you served as an Election Judge in 2024, you will receive a bonus in 2026:

  • $100 for each full day served at a polling place.
  • $50 for each part day served at a polling place.
  • If you last served in the 2022 election (or earlier) or served in 2024 as a Canvasser, Drop Box Runner, or were a Nursing Home Program participatn, you are not eligible to receive a bonus in 2026.

ADA Statement

All training locations and voting places in Montgomery County are accessible. If you need accommodations or have questions, a Board of Elections recruiter can assist you.

Election Worker Training

You are required to complete training to serve .

  • Election Judges - Complete an online training, take a quiz, and attend an in-person training class for their specific assigned position (s)
  • Canvassers – Attend an in-person training class before you start
  • Nursing Home Program Participants – Attend an in-person training class before you start
  • Drop Box Runners – Attend an in-person training class at the Board of Elections. You will also visit a drop box to learn proper procedures.

Ready to Apply?

You can apply any time, but if you want to volunteer to serve in a specific election, apply today!

Complete your online application.

Contact Information

  • Phone: 240-777-8533
  • Email:  [email protected]
  • Fax: 240-777-8578
  • Mailing Address:
    Montgomery County Board of Elections
    18753 North Frederick Avenue, Suite 210
    Gaithersburg, MD 20879

Inclement Weather Policy

  • We use Alert Montgomery to send messages if there is bad weather or an emergency. Sign up at Montgomery Alerts for text and/or email alerts
  • Check www.777vote.org for updates
  • If Montgomery County Government is closed, the Board of Elections is closed.
  • All training classes for the day will be canceled. Call 240-777-8533 for updates