Skip to main content
City of Madison
  • Accounts
    • All Accounts
    • My Account
    • ePayments
    • Water Customer Care
    • Employment
    • Licenses & Permits
  • Services
  • Jobs
  • Agencies
    • All Agencies
    • Assessor's Office
    • Attorney's Office
    • Building Inspection
    • Civil Rights
    • Clerk's Office
    • Common Council
    • Community Development
    • Development Services Center
    • Economic Development
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Engineering
    • Finance
    • Fire
    • Fleet Service
    • Golf
    • Goodman Pool
    • Housing Authority
    • Human Resources
    • Information Technology
    • Madison City Channel
    • Madison Public Library
    • Madison Senior Center
    • Mayor's Office
    • Metro Transit
    • Monona Terrace
    • Municipal Court
    • Office of Business Resources
    • Office of Real Estate Services
    • Olbrich Botanical Gardens
    • Parking Utility
    • Parks
    • Planning
    • Planning, Community & Economic Development
    • Police
    • Public Health Madison & Dane County
    • Public Works
    • Streets & Recycling
    • Traffic Engineering
    • Transportation
    • Treasurer's Office
    • Warner Park Community Recreation Center
    • Water Utility
  • Data
  • Contact
    • Mayor
    • City Council
    • City Staff & Agencies

Search form

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

  • City Services
  • Public Health
  • Get Alerts
  • Español
  • Hmoob
City of Madison - Clerk Logo

City Clerk's Office

  • Maribeth Witzel-Behl, City Clerk
We exist to assist
  • Home
  • Calendar
  • Meeting Schedule
  • Elections & Voting
  • Licenses & Permits
  • Committees
  • Lobbyists
  • About
  • Contact
  1. City of Madison
  2. Clerk
  3. Elections & Voting
  4. Election Officials

Election Officials

Election Officials, or Poll Workers, facilitate the right to vote and maintain order at the polls on Election Day. They ensure that our elections are open, fair, impartial, and trusted.One of the most rewarding ways to become involved in the election process is to become an Election Official.

We are at capacity for all 2021 elections.

Thank you for your interest in becoming an Election Official (Poll Worker). We have 6,000 Election Officials (poll workers) currently registered with our office.  We are fully staffed for the February 16, 2021 Spring Primary and the April 6, 2021 elections. If you would be interested in signing up for 2022 elections, and beyond, please complete an online application. Newsletters and a scheduling survey will be sent out in Fall 2021 to those who have submitted applications during 2021.

 

Apply to be an Election Official

Pay

The City of Madison pays its Election Officials an hourly living wage, which is adjusted annually for inflation. The 2020 living wage is $13.62 an hour. Election Officials will earn an additional $8.17 an hour for their time at the polls on August 11 and on November 3, 2020, for a total of $21.79 an hour.

The City of Madison Payroll requires a Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate before it will issue paychecks. New Election Officials need to complete a W-4 form and return it to the City Clerk's office prior to Election Day. Starting in 2020, new Election Officials must also complete Wisconsin form WT-4. Forms W4 and WT-4 only need to be submitted once. 

Election Officials may choose to receive pay via direct deposit by submitting a Direct Deposit Authorization Agreement. Be sure to use the correct routing number from a check, not a deposit slip. Routing numbers for direct deposit never begin with a "5".

To cancel direct deposit, submit a Direct Deposit Termination form.

High School Students

High School students must submit an Authorization Form signed by the parent/guardian and the High School principal for each election. Learn more about becoming a Student Election Official.

Employer Certification

Employers (other than the City of Madison) that pay their employees to work at the polls on Election Day may require proof that their employees worked without pay. Election Officials who need this certification may print and bring the Election Official Certification for Employer to the polls.

Assignments

Approximately five weeks before each election, Election Officials who indicated availability on their scheduling survey will receive an email message providing their assignment and a link to the training schedule. All scheduling communications are best handled via email to madisonvotes@cityofmadison.com. Phone calls are less efficient and effective.

Three smiling election officials

Why am I a poll worker?

I was raised to believe that working at the polls was my civic duty. As long as I am able, I want to help people exercise their right to have their voice heard. Besides, it's fun.  -Sue G.

I work at the polls to experience the real world outside my daily routine. It is like a vacation, doing something different, interesting, and fun.  -Jean P.

You keep in touch with your neighbors and have a feeling of satisfaction that you are doing something worthwhile to help your neighborhood. There is joy in being part of something of value.  -Sharon F.

Elections & Voting

  • Voting
    • Voter ID
      • Obtain a Voter ID
      • Unavailable Documentation
      • Voter ID Exemptions
    • Vote Absentee
      • Ballot Drop-Off Sites
      • In-Person Absentee Voting Hours and Locations
      • Make Sure Your Absentee Counts!
      • Military & Overseas Voters
      • Voting Absentee in the Hospital
    • Polling Place FAQ
    • Student FAQ
    • Accessibility
    • On Election Day
    • Voting Machines
    • Create Your Safe Voting Plan
    • Where Do I Vote?
    • Who Are My Elected Officials?
  • Voter Registration
    • Proof of Residence
    • Register at the Polls
    • Confidential Voter Registration
    • Eligibility to Vote
  • Election Officials
    • Apply to be an Election Official
    • Duties and Qualifications
    • Resources for Election Officials
    • Training Dates
    • Training Q&A
    • Conscientious Inspector Award
    • Student Officials
    • Voter Education Ambassadors
  • Candidates & Campaigns
    • Campaign Finance Instructions
    • Campaign Finance Reports
    • Campaign Restrictions
    • Candidate Filings
    • Madison Metropolitan School District
    • Running for Local Office
    • Wisconsin Elections Commission
    • Wisconsin Ethics Commission
  • Español
  • Hmong

Clerk's Office

City Clerk's Office
210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Room 103, City-County Building
Madison, WI 53703

  • Office Hours:
    Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
    Licensing available until 4:00 pm.
  • Phone: (608) 266-4601
  • Fax: (608) 266-4666
  • clerk@cityofmadison.com

Clerk's Office

City Clerk's Office
210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Room 103, City-County Building
Madison, WI 53703
  • Office Hours:
    Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
    Licensing available until 4:00 pm.
  • Phone: (608) 266-4601
  • Fax: (608) 266-4666
  • clerk@cityofmadison.com
  • WI Relay Service

Voting

  • Vote Absentee
  • Where Do I Vote?
  • Register to Vote
  • Voter ID
  • Elecciones y el Voto

Records & Claims

  • Public Records
  • Claim Against the City
  • Dane County Clerk
  • Birth, death, marriage, and domestic partnership records in Dane County
  • Wisconsin State Vital Records

Stay Informed

  • Alcohol License Review Committee
  • Clerk's Office Twitter
  • Meeting Schedule and Updates Email List

All Social Media »

City of Madison, Wisconsin logo, copyright City of Madison

Our Madison – Inclusive, Innovative, & Thriving

Copyright © 1995 - 2021 City of Madison, WI
  • Contact Webmaster
  • Accessibility
  • Web Policies
2019 Winner of the Digital Cities Survey by the Center for Digital Government