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Clerk/Treasurer
The City of West Allis encourages all citizens to vote and to become involved in the election process. One of the most rewarding ways to become involved is to serve your community as a poll worker (or "Election Inspector" as the position is formally called).
Citizen involvement is essential in conducting open, accurate and fair elections. We hope that you will consider participating in the election process by signing up to be a poll worker. Generally, the City staffs the polling places with 168 election inspectors. For a Presidential Election, an additional 65 poll workers are needed. To help you make an informed decision before applying for the position, please review the following information.
Responsibilities of an Election Inspector
Election Inspectors conduct assigned duties at a polling site on Election Day. General duties include: organizing the polling place before the polls open; election day voter registration; checking in voters on the poll book and assigning each voter on the poll book a sequential election day voter number; issuing ballots; assisting voters and providing instruction as necessary; processing absentee ballots; monitoring the voting equipment; and signing and assisting with paperwork for the City and County such as Write-ins, Election Day Registered Voters, Immediate Returns, Inspectors' Statement, Absentee Ballot envelopes, and an Oath Certificate.
Hours of Work
Polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Poll workers work a full day, generally from 6:30 a.m. until approximately 9:00 p.m. or later in the case of November elections. Breaks and lunch/dinner hours are allowed and determined by the Chief Election Inspector. For a busier election, you are encouraged to bring necessary meals with you.
Compensation
Election inspectors are compensated for working at the polling place and for attending training sessions. The current pay for Election Inspectors is $95.00 per Election Day.
Training requirements
The City Clerk/Treasurer provides training on Wednesday evening prior to every Primary and Election. These training sessions last approximately one hour.
A chief election inspector who has been certified by the Government Accountability Board must be present at each polling place for every election. Chief Election Inspectors and Alternate Chief Election Inspectors must receive six hours of continuing election education training during each two-year period. There is additional pay for those serving in these positions.
Length of commitment
Poll workers are appointed to two-year terms. However, committing to an election or being available to fill in at the last moment is also appreciated.
Location of Work
Every effort is made to assign a poll worker to his or her neighborhood polling place. However, there are times when the Municipal Clerk requests poll workers to be willing and flexible in order to cover vacancies at other sites.
Qualifications
To be a poll worker, a person must:
- Be a qualified elector of the municipality in which the polling place is established (i.e., an adult citizen of the United States who has resided in the election district for 10 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 to be voted on at the polling place at that election.
High School Poll Workers
High School students are encouraged to work as election inspectors. A student who is 16 or 17 years of age and who is enrolled in grades 9-12 in a public or private high school and has at least a 3.0 GPA may serve as an election inspector with the approval of the student's parent or guardian. The municipal clerk must receive written authorization from the student's parent or guardian for the student to serve for the election for which he or she is appointed.
The school board (or governing body of a private school) may establish criteria for service by a student that does not have a 3.0 GPA. If a pupil does not have at least a 3.0 GPA or equivalent, the municipal clerk shall obtain written certification from the principal of the student's school that the student meets any criteria established by the school board (or governing body of a private school) for service as an inspector.
Note: Wisconsin law requires every employer to grant an unpaid leave of absence to each employee who is appointed to serve as an election official, if the employee who serves as an election official provides his or her employer with at least 7 days notice. The leave is for the entire 24-hour period of each Election Day in which the employee serves in his or her official capacity as an election official. Upon request of any employer, municipal clerks must verify appointments.
Please contact the City Clerk/Treasurer's Office at (414) 302-8200, and we will mail you an application, or you may download the Election Official Application, and return the completed form to the Clerk/Treasurer's Office, City of West Allis, Clerk/Treasurer's Office, 7525 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis, WI 53214.
Thank you for your interest in serving as a Poll Worker in West Allis.
