Any High School student that meets the following requirements:

• 17 years or older
• A resident of Berks County
• U.S. Citizen
• Must be in good academic standing
• Have teacher recommendation, Principal approval and parental consent

• Students must obtain a signed recommendation from a teacher.
• Students must get the approval form signed by the school’s Principal.
• Students must get the parental/guardian consent form signed.
• Students must attend a Poll Worker Training class.
• Students must arrive at their assigned Polling Place on time and work with the Judge of Election as directed.
• Students must act in a professional manner and assist voters in the Election Process.

Students are assigned to serve as Machine Inspectors and Clerks in the polling place on Election Day and are obligated to serve from 6:15am – 8:30pm. Students have the same responsibilities as regular poll workers, they are expected to:

• Attend a two hour training session prior to the Election
• Provide their own transportation to and from the polling place
• Assist in opening and closing the polling place
• Process voters

It is our desire to have students assist during the entire day. Pennsylvania Law limits the number of hours minors under the age of eighteen may work in any one day to eight hours. It is our suggestion that students be present to perform services at the poll the entire day – initially as credit for school day attendance and thereafter as a worker.

The Student Poll Worker class will be held a few weeks before Election Day.  An exact date has not yet been scheduled for the class before the 2024 General Election.

Arrangements may be made to attend a different class if there is a conflict with the student class. 
 

Students are placed at a location as near to their home address as possible, but there are some areas that have a greater need for poll workers than others. Per PA Election Law, only two students may be assigned to a polling location

Due to the strict guidelines and strategic planning that goes into poll worker placement, students must show up to their assigned location. They may not show up to a different precinct without the approval of the Election Services office..

All student poll workers must submit an application to the school coordinator with the teacher recommendation, principal approval and parental/guardian consent. The application can be obtained from the Berks County Election Services website or from the school coordinator at your high school.

Student Poll Worker Application

Students, or their school coordinator, will be contacted by email or phone call to let them know they have been accepted.

Students who are accepted will receive a poll worker packet when they attend training class. The packet will include your assigned location, and the contact information of the Judge of Elections at your assigned polling place.

Students are paid $200 via a debit card for working on Election Day, just like other poll workers.

They will also receive $30 for attending a training class, if they work on Election Day.  The training class pay is included on the debit card. 

Debit cards are distributed on Election Day.