Wayne County seeks poll workers for May election

The Wayne County Board of Elections is currently in need of paid volunteers.

“We are looking for persons to work on Election Day to assist their neighbors with casting their vote in the primary election,” said Julie Stahl, the director of the board.

The election will be held May 5.

Anyone age 18 or over who is a registered Wayne County voter is eligible to assist. Additionally, 17-year-old students may work the polls as part of the Youth at the Booth program.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for youth to be exposed to the processes of an election,” Stahl said. “It also looks good on college applications and/or resumes.”

New workers are required to attend a three-hour training to review election processes and get hands-on training with the equipment. Participants receive $30 for the training with additional pay for Election Day.

Currently, volunteers are required to commit to working all day. Poll workers report to their assigned polling location at 5 a.m. on Election Day to prepare for the polls to be open at 6:30 a.m. After the polls close at 7:30 p.m., there are specific procedures that must be followed to close the location, which could take another 45-60 minutes.

The base pay for a poll worker is $123 for Election Day. Additional stipends are available for those who help with Monday night setup and/or work as a rider to the board of elections on election night or are a manager.

What, exactly, do poll workers do?

“Each election,” Stahl said, “our poll workers assist the board of elections in bringing voting activities into neighborhoods across Wayne County so that citizens can exercise their right to vote.”

Poll workers set up each polling location including voting machines and an electronic poll book for voter check-in and ensure the polling location is ADA-accessible and offers a safe and secure experience for the voters assigned to that location. Poll workers assist voters with the procedures and processes necessary to cast their vote privately and securely.

Wayne County has 66 precincts. A full complement of workers is four per precinct (264 poll workers).

“We also deploy 10 election rovers, two truck drivers for precincts in the northern section of the county and try to have some alternates in case of call-offs, et cetera," Stahl said.

The easiest way to volunteer is to visit WayneCountyOH.gov and complete the interest form. Interested people also can call the Wayne County Board of Elections at 330-287-5480 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays or email Wayne@ohiosos.gov.

There are a lot of races with primaries in this year’s May election. Parties will be selecting their candidates for the November general election in races such as governor, U.S. senator, state senator, state representative, Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, county probate/juvenile court judge, one county commissioner and county auditor. Also on the ballot are party state central committee persons, party county central committee persons and various local issues.

Stahl said voters will be asked in this primary election which party ballot they would prefer. Voters will have a choice of a Republican, Democratic or Libertarian ballot. In addition, 30 of the 121 ballot styles will offer a nonpartisan/issues-only ballot.

“Under current Ohio law, the only way to change your party affiliation is by requesting a party ballot at a primary election,” Stahl said. “Voters are reminded that whichever party ballot they choose at the May 5, 2026 election will be their party of record until the next primary election is held. For most Wayne County voters, this will be the presidential primary in 2028.”

Stahl said the poll workers in Wayne County are the BOE's heroes.

"Our office staff of five persons could not facilitate an election across Wayne County without them," Stahl said. "We have 66 precincts housed in 30 locations across the county on Election Day. They are vital to making Election Day happen in every way.”