The City of Amery encourages all private citizens to vote and to become involved in the Election Process. One of the most rewarding ways to do this is to become an Election Day Poll Worker (Or "Election Inspector" as the position is formally called). The Chief Election Inspector is in charge of the polling place, and has additional training requirements.
Citizen involvement is essential to conduct open, accurate and fair elections in Wisconsin. We hope that you will consider participation in one of these positions.
What are the responsibilities of a Poll Worker? Poll Workers (Election Inspectors) conduct assigned duties at a polling site on Election Day. Duties can include organizing the polling place before the polls are open, greeting voters, issuing ballots to registered voters, assigning voters numbers in the poll books, registering voters, monitoring the voting equipment, explaining how to mark the ballot or use the voting equipment or counting votes.
What are the hours of work? Polling places are open statewide from 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Poll Workers can work a split shift generally from 6:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to close. Breaks and lunch/dinner hours are allowed and determined by the Chief Election Inspector and/or the City Clerk.
Are Poll Workers (Election Inspectors) compensated? Election Inspectors are compensated for working at the polling places and for attending training sessions. Chief Election Inspectors have additional responsibilities and are compensated based on those duties.
What are training requirements for Poll Workers? The City of Amery provides training to all poll workers. This training provides all of the necessary information and knowledge to be a successful Poll Worker. Training sessions last approximately 1 hour. Chief Election Inspectors are required to attend a paid 4-Hour Training Session.
What are the requirements to be a Poll Worker? To be a Poll Worker, a person must:
- Be a qualified elector of the county in which the municipality is located (i.e., an adult citizen of the United States who has resided in the election district for 10 consecutive days and is not otherwise disqualified to vote).
- Be able to speak, read, and write fluently in the English Language.
- Have strong Clerical Skills.
- Be able to solve problems.
- Be an effective communicator.
- NOT be a candidate for any office voted on at the polling place at that election.
How are poll workers selected? According to State Statutes 7.40(4)(a). Except in cities where there is a board of election commissioners, the mayor, president or board chairperson of each municipality shall nominate to the governing body no later than their last regular meeting in December of each odd-numbered year the necessary election officials for each polling place and any election officials required under s. 7.52 (1) (b). If no regular meeting is scheduled, the mayor, president or chairperson shall call a special meeting for the purpose of considering nominations no later than December 31. The governing body of the city appoints the Poll Workers for a two-year term.
If interested, please call Ben Jansen, City Clerk/Treasurer at: (715) 268-3413, or stop in at the Amery City Hall (104 Maple St. W, Suite A) during normal business hours from: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Monday - Friday)