Election Worker Information

Election Official Form
Election Official Application Form
High School Student Volunteer Application Form

Commonly Asked Questions About Becoming a Election Official

What are the steps necessary to become a election official?

• First, you must be a registered voter in Sebastian County.
  • Voter registration forms are available at the Sebastian County Clerk’s office in Fort Smith (telephone 479-782-5065) or Greenwood (telephone 479-996-4195).
  • Download the application from the Secretary of State's Website [link]
  • Pick up an application from State Revenue Office, Public library, Public assistance agency, Disability agency, Military recruitment office, Arkansas National Guard
• Second, there is a Election Official Form you must complete and return to the Sebastian County Election Commission.
• Third, you must attend a training session that makes you eligible for placement as a worker for future elections.
   

What are the different election official pos itions?

• The Election Official Judge is in charge of the vote center and has additional responsibilities, including checking election supplies, inspecting the vote center and delivering ballots and materials to the courthouse on election night.
• Election Officials greet voters, work the voter list, check identification, distribute ballots and assist voters.
   

What is the pay for election officials?

• The current rate of pay for election officials is minimum wage. Election officials who complete a poll worker training session prior to an election receive an additional $35.

What are the hours?

• The polls open at 7:30 a.m. and are open until 7:30 p.m. Election Officials are to report before the polls open at the time designated by their Election Official Judge or the Election Coordinator. The Election Officials are dismissed after all voters that were in line by 7:30 p.m. have cast their ballots, all election materials are processed and signed and the vote center is returned to the condition it was found. Election Official Judges then take the election materials to the Fort Smith Courthouse that night.
   

Is one training session all that is required?

• No. All poll workers are required to attend training each year. Election Official judges are asked to attend training prior to each election. Refresher and special training course are conducted on an as-needed basis.
   

What happens after I’ve attended the initial training session?

• Your name is entered into the active list of election officials. Prior to each election, election official callers contact enough workers for each vote center for the needs of that election.
   

If I’ve been a election official in another county or state, do I have to attend training?

• Yes, your attendance at training in the county you are working is mandatory and is what adds your name to the list of active election officials roll.
   

How do I obtain a election official information sheet?

• Election official information sheets may be obtained here or from the Sebastian County Election Commission.
   

Am I automatically assigned to work at the polls after I complete training?

• No, different elections require different numbers of poll workers so it is not possible to use all trained workers every time. If an assigned election official becomes ill or is unable to work an election, an alternate is chosen from the list of trained workers.
   

If you have any further questions please contact the Sebastian County Election Commission.