Election Day is one of the most important days in our democracy. All over the country, voters head to their polling places to use their vote as their voice. It takes the work of many — from poll workers to state, county, and municipal election officials — to power the polls.  

From maintaining voter registration databases to processing voter registrations, election workers keep all aspects of the voting system running smoothly. Those on the front lines make connections with voters to help them better understand the democratic and electoral process. 

Election Hero Day — another important but lesser known day — acknowledges our election workers for their dedication to protecting our votes. This Election Hero Day, November 3, 2025, let’s thank and celebrate those whose efforts keep our democracy running!  

Who Are Election Heroes? 

Election heroes include poll workers, election office staff, county and municipal election clerks and directors, and statewide and territorial election officials. These roles all work together to power elections. Each type of election worker has a distinct role to play and builds community with voters. 

Poll workers manage the polls on Election Day and guide voters through the voting process. Voters rely on poll workers to show them how to use voting machines, provide language assistance, and distribute ballots. According to the Election Administration and Voting Survey 2024 Comprehensive Report published by the US Election Assistance Commission, over 770,000 individuals served as poll workers for the 2024 general election. 

Election office staff address the day-to-day responsibilities of elections. They answer questions from voters, test voting machines and tabulators to make sure they work correctly, and process voter registration and mail-in ballot applications. Although usually a small team, they handle critical work in the lead up to and on Election Day. 

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County and municipal election clerks handle all the aspects of election administration. Clerks register voters, manage the distribution of absentee ballots, and run the early voting period along with voting on Election Day. 

Statewide and territorial election officials administer the election process year-round, and are elected, appointed, or hired. These officials maintain the voter roll and voting equipment and recruit poll workers. Their work is in collaboration with local election officials to guarantee that voting goes efficiently for all. 

Election Workers Are Trusted Messengers

Whether statewide, county, or local, election workers are trusted messengers in their communities. They share information on what time the polls open and close, how to use voting machines, and how to complete one’s ballot. Voters know their election workers — they are friends, family, and neighbors — and connecting with them builds community, promotes transparency, and enhances access to the voting process. 

According to a Pew Research Center poll, nine in 10 registered voters tend to trust poll workers. It’s similar with local election officials; they are credible and reliable sources of election information. Their websites and social media accounts offer up-to-date digital communication that is accurate and accessible.  

Closeness to the people running our elections may influence our trust in the process itself. Research suggests that 74% of Americans are confident about accurate vote counts in their communities, as opposed to the 63% who are confident about counts nationwide. Election workers can increase confidence by explaining how votes are counted and certified on the ground. 

Similarly, research found that outreach and communication from election officials has an educational effect. When election officials inform voters how election processes work — such as registering to vote and voting by mail — voters are more likely to navigate those processes successfully. 

In addition to election workers, poll watchers observe what happens at the polls on Election Day. Through the League’s election observation efforts, League members are trained and serve as poll watchers. They are the eyes and ears of the voting site, and they alert election officials if anything goes wrong. 

Become a Poll Worker or Join Your Election Observation Program 

With Election Day 2025 approaching and the 2026 Midterm a year away, it’s crucial that Leagues make strides to defend free and fair elections. You can sign up to be a poll worker or get involved in empowering voters by joining your local League’s election observation program!