Student Poll Workers

Interested in finding out more about the Elections process? Have an interest in serving your community and gaining knowledge about the political process?  Explore the questions and answers.

High school students who are 16 years of age or older now have the opportunity to participate in the electoral process by serving as elections clerks at an Election Day polling place. A student who is at least 16 years of age and who is enrolled in a public or private high school or home school and has the consent of the principal (or parent/legal guardian in charge of education in home school) may serve as an election clerk. The Elections Department must receive written authorization from the student's parent or guardian for the student to serve in the election for which he or she is appointed. Serving as an election clerk is now included in the Texas Education Code’s definition of “excused absence” from school.

This program is designed to provide students with a greater awareness of the electoral process and the rights and responsibilities of voters. The students will assist their local election officials by filling positions at polling places on Election Day and working under the direction of the polling place presiding judge.

Some of the benefits of serving as an election clerk are:

• Election workers are paid hourly for their service.
• Students will gain practical experience by serving their community.
• Experience as an election clerk is an impressive addition to a resumé or college application.
• Students can take part in a rewarding activity while learning about the electoral process.

Working under the supervision of the polling place judge, student election clerks may assist with the following duties:

• Organizing the polling place before the polls open.
• Ensuring that qualified voters are permitted to vote.
• Checking in and processing voters.
• Distributing ballots to registered voters.
• Providing instructions and assistance to voters.
• Answering voters’ questions.
• Explaining the use of the voting equipment.
• Maintaining order in the polling place on Election Day.
• Obtaining results after the polls are closed and closing the polling place.
• Serving as an interpreter for voters who speak a language other than English.

To qualify as a student election clerk, the student must:

• Be at least 16 years old on Election Day;
• Be enrolled in a public, private or qualified home school;
• Be a U.S. citizen;
• Have consent of his/her parent or legal guardian to work the election;
• Have consent of his/her school principal (or parent/legal guardian for home-schooled students); and
• Complete any required election worker training program.

• Fill out the Student Election Clerk Application and Permission Form.
• Have your parent or guardian sign the Parent/Legal Guardian Permission portion.
• Have your school principal sign the School Principal Authorization portion. Also, take the proper steps to ensure that your absence from school on Election Day will be excused.
• Send the application to the Elections Department. Try to send application at least 60 days prior to Election Day (even though there is no statutory deadline).
• If selected, attend the required election training class prior to Election Day. This training provides all the necessary information and knowledge to be a successful elections clerk.

Please call the Elections Department at 817-831-6497 if you have questions about the student pollworker program.