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Poll worker requirements in Colorado
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A poll worker is an individual temporarily hired by a local government to help facilitate voting on an election day. According to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, "Most jurisdictions task election workers with setting up and preparing the polling location, welcoming voters, verifying voter registrations, and issuing ballots. Poll workers also help ensure voters understand the voting process by demonstrating how to use voting equipment and explaining voting procedures."[1]
States have different laws and requirements for poll workers. This page contains information on laws and requirements for poll workers in Colorado. Click here to learn about poll worker laws and requirements in all 50 states.
- Colorado poll worker laws and requirements
- Does Colorado require poll workers to be registered to vote?
- Can individuals under 18 serve as poll workers?
- Are poll workers bound by a residency requirement in Colorado?
- Does Colorado law have a political party distribution requirement for poll workers?
- Are poll workers required to work a full shift?
- Does the law require poll workers to undergo training?
- Are poll workers paid in Colorado?
- Can poll workers serve as unpaid volunteers in Colorado?
- Poll worker laws and requirements by state
Colorado poll worker laws and requirements
The following requirements are current as of October 2024.
Does Colorado require poll workers to be registered to vote?
Yes. Colorado law requires poll workers to be registered voters.[2][3]
Can individuals under 18 serve as poll workers?
Yes. Colorado allows students who are at least 16 years old per precinct to serve as poll workers.[2][3]
Are poll workers bound by a residency requirement in Colorado?
Yes. Poll workers must be state residents.[2][3]
Does Colorado law have a political party distribution requirement for poll workers?
Yes. Colorado law requires partisan distribution of poll workers. An equal number of poll workers are required to belong to each of the two major parties.[2][3]
Are poll workers required to work a full shift?
Colorado does not specify whether poll workers can work half-day or split shifts.[2][3]
Does the law require poll workers to undergo training?
Yes. Colorado law requires designated election official to hold classes for election judges and supervisor judges within the 60 days prior to each election.[2][3]
Are poll workers paid in Colorado?
Yes. The governing body calling the election determines the rate of compensation for poll workers. Workers must be paid at least $5, and people providing transportation for poll workers may be paid for each mile traveled over 10 miles when traveling to and from the designated election official’s office.[2][3]
Can poll workers serve as unpaid volunteers in Colorado?
Colorado law does not specify whether poll workers can serve as unpaid volunteers.[2][3]
Poll worker laws and requirements by state
As of October 2024:
- 45 states require poll workers to be registered to vote.
- 45 states allow individuals under 18 to serve as poll workers.
- 46 states have a residency requirement for poll workers.
- 41 states have a political party distribution requirement for poll workers.
- 6 states require poll workers to work a full shift.
- 44 states require poll workers to undergo training.
- 46 states pay poll workers.
- 9 states allow poll workers to serve as unpaid volunteers.[2][3]
The map below shows poll worker requirements across the country. Click the blue links to switch between individual requirements.
The following table shows poll worker laws and requirements in all 50 states. Click on a state to learn more.
Poll worker laws and requirements by state | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Are poll workers required to be registered to vote? | Can poll workers be under 18? | Are there residency requirements for poll workers? | Are there political party requirements? | Are poll workers required to work a full shift? | Are poll workers required to undergo training? | Are poll workers paid? | Can poll workers serve as unpaid volunteers? |
Alabama | (varies; at least $50) | |||||||
Alaska | (varies; up to $20.50 per hour) | |||||||
Arizona | (varies; at least $30 per day) | |||||||
Arkansas | ![]() |
(federal minimum wage) | ||||||
California | ![]() |
(varies) | ![]() | |||||
Colorado | ![]() |
(varies; at least $5) | ![]() | |||||
Connecticut | (varies) | |||||||
Delaware | (varies) | ![]() | ||||||
Florida | (varies) | ![]() | ||||||
Georgia | ![]() |
(varies) | ||||||
Hawaii[4] | ![]() |
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Idaho | ![]() |
(varies; must be greater than or equal to the state minimum wage) | ||||||
Illinois | ![]() |
($35-$60 per day) | ![]() | |||||
Indiana | (varies) | ![]() | ||||||
Iowa | ![]() |
(varies; must greater than or equal to the state minimum wage) | ![]() | |||||
Kansas | ![]() |
(varies; at least $3 per hour or $40 per day depending on whether voting machines are used) | ||||||
Kentucky | ![]() |
(varies; at least $60 per day) | ![]() | |||||
Louisiana | ![]() |
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(varies; between $35 and $350 per day) | ![]() | ||||
Maine | ![]() |
(varies) | ||||||
Maryland | (varies) | |||||||
Massachusetts | ![]() |
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(varies) | ![]() | ||||
Michigan | ![]() |
(varies) | ![]() | |||||
Minnesota | (varies; at least state minimum wage) | |||||||
Mississippi | ![]() |
(varies; between $125 and $200) | ![]() | |||||
Missouri | (varies) | ![]() | ||||||
Montana | (varies; at least the state or federal minimum wage, whichever is greater) | ![]() | ||||||
Nebraska | (varies; at least the state minimum wage) | |||||||
Nevada | ![]() |
(varies) | ![]() | |||||
New Hampshire | ![]() |
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New Jersey | (varies; at least $300 per election | ![]() | ||||||
New Mexico | ![]() |
(varies; at least federal minimum wage but no more than $400 per day) | ![]() | |||||
New York | (varies; at least $100) | ![]() | ||||||
North Carolina | ![]() |
(varies; at least state minimum wage) | ![]() | |||||
North Dakota | (varies; at least state minimum wage) | ![]() | ||||||
Ohio | ![]() |
(varies; at least federal minimum wage) | ![]() | |||||
Oklahoma | ![]() |
($115-$125 depending on role) | ![]() | |||||
Oregon[5] | ![]() |
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Pennsylvania | (varies; between $75 and $200 per day) | ![]() | ||||||
Rhode Island | (varies; at least $60 per day) | ![]() | ||||||
South Carolina | ![]() |
(varies) | ![]() | |||||
South Dakota | (varies) | ![]() | ||||||
Tennessee | ![]() |
(varies; at least $50 per day) | ![]() | |||||
Texas | (varies; at least federal minimum wage) | ![]() | ||||||
Utah | ![]() |
(varies) | ![]() | |||||
Vermont | ![]() |
(varies) | ![]() | |||||
Virginia | ($75 per day) | |||||||
Washington[6] | ![]() |
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Washington, D.C. | ![]() |
(varies; between $100-$300) | ![]() | |||||
Wisconsin | (varies) | |||||||
West Virginia | (varies) | ![]() | ||||||
Wyoming | ![]() |
(varies; at least the state minimum wage) | ![]() |
Poll worker legislation in Colorado
Below you will find legislation related to poll workers introduced in the Colorado State Legislature in the most recent session.
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External links
See also
- Voter registration
- Automatic voter registration
- Same-day voter registration
- Elections and events calendar
Footnotes
- ↑ United States Election Assistance Commission, "Poll Worker Resources for Voters," February 1, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Election Poll Workers," May 28, 2024
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 U.S. Election Assistance Commission, "State-by-State Compendium Election Worker Laws & Statutes," accessed June 28, 2024
- ↑ Elections in Hawaii are conducted mostly by mail. The state, therefore, does not employ poll workers.
- ↑ Elections in Oregon are conducted mostly by mail. The state, therefore, does not employ poll workers.
- ↑ Elections in Washington are conducted mostly by mail. The state, therefore, does not employ poll workers.