Time for another Ballot Bulletin where we highlight various election security topics so we are all better informed about the processes in place to ensure our elections are fair, accessible, and secure.

This week let’s dive into the poll worker selection process.

Here in Wisconsin, municipal clerks are responsible for ensuring all their polling places are staffed with enough poll workers. This includes appointing and training poll workers for each election. Law requires every municipality to appoint election inspectors from lists of nominees presented by the two dominant political parties. 

Both the Democratic and Republican Parties of Wisconsin recruit voters to serve as poll workers and must submit their lists of nominees to each county by November 30 of each odd numbered year (ex. 2023, 2025, 2027, …). Clerks must utilize the lists of potential poll workers provided by the parties before bringing in unaffiliated poll workers.

Party affiliated poll workers as well as unaffiliated poll workers must complete the application process to be appointed as poll workers for all elections held in the following two years. Clerks appoint poll workers by December 31 of the odd numbered year to serve over the following 2 years. Once appointed to the position by the clerk, poll workers become election officials.

Wisconsin law provides specific party affiliation requirements to ensure bipartisan representation in the election workforce. On Election Day, the municipal clerk should identify any election inspectors appointed by one of the two major political parties. The chief inspector must ensure that any Election Day tasks that require completion by two election inspectors are represented by each party when possible. Have representation from both political parties is another check and balance put in place to ensure fair elections in Wisconsin. 

When a municipal clerk appoints special voting deputies to carry out absentee voting at certain care facilities, they similarly must appoint at least two individuals (one from each dominant political party) whenever possible.

All poll workers, party affiliated or not, must complete the training requirements of the municipality in which they will serve on Election Day or during In-person Early Voting.