open Secondary menu

Poll Workers

Poll workers work primarily at polling places, that is, where electors go to vote. Various positions are available, from the deputy returning officer, who handles the ballots, to the information officer, who directs electors to the appropriate table. During an election, poll workers are on the front line and make it possible for electors to vote in an orderly fashion. Elections Canada is committed to providing a safe environment for workers and electors, and we have put health and safety measures in place at every polling place.

Special requirements

Individuals interested in applying for these positions must demonstrate the following core competencies:

  • Basic literacy skills (reading, writing and comprehension)
  • Basic interpersonal skills, including the ability to exercise impartiality and to deal with people who may be impatient
  • Ability to serve electors with disabilities
  • Ability to perform repetitive tasks
  • Basic analytical skills
  • Good attention to detail
  • Ability to follow directions and adhere to standards and safety measures
  • Ability to learn quickly
  • Ability to work long days (at least 13 hours)

Some poll worker positions will also involve:

  • Standing for long periods of time
  • Standing or sitting close to exterior doors where there could be inclement weather
  • Checking the exterior of the polling place
  • Completing detailed forms and paperwork with legible handwriting
  • Counting ballots (requires basic arithmetic skills)
  • Ensuring that electors and candidates' representatives follow all safety guidelines and procedures

Poll worker positions across Canada

Notes:

For advance poll workers: Do not take part in any partisan political activity starting from the first day of advance polls and ending after the counting of the ballots on election night.

For election day poll workers: Do not take part in any partisan political activity on election day until after the counting of the ballots on election night.

Canadian citizens who are at least 16 years old on election day are invited and encouraged to apply.

Deputy returning officer (polling day)

Principal Tasks

  • Makes sure the polling station opens and closes on time
  • Sets up the poll with the necessary supplies
  • Verifies electors' ID and enforces ID policy
  • Issues the ballot to the elector and indicates the instructions to follow
  • Completes the appropriate paperwork to record that an elector has voted
  • Ensures that electors and candidates' representatives follow all safety guidelines and procedures
  • Manages the custody of ballots and ballot boxes
  • Counts the ballots, completes the related forms and communicates the results to the local Elections Canada office
  • Returns the ballot box and related materials to the returning officer or central poll supervisor, as instructed, at the end of the counting of ballots and completion of paperwork

Overview of Qualifications

  • Be a Canadian citizen
  • Be at least 16 years old on polling day
  • Have experience in receiving and recording personal information from the general public and in completing paperwork or forms
  • Have experience in dealing with the public
  • Have experience in conflict resolution
  • Be tactful and exercise good judgment
  • Remain polite and courteous (demonstrate professionalism)

Remuneration* (Rate is subject to change)

$19.37/hour. Please consult Remuneration for election officers for additional rates.

arrow up Back to top

Deputy returning officer (advance polling days)

Principal Tasks

  • Makes sure the polling station opens and closes on time
  • Sets up the poll with the necessary supplies
  • Verifies electors' ID and enforces ID policy
  • Issues the ballot to the elector and indicates the instructions to follow
  • Completes the appropriate paperwork to record that an elector has voted
  • Ensures that candidates' representatives follow the guidelines
  • Manages the custody of ballots and ballot boxes
  • Ensures safe transportation and storage of material between each day of voting and between the last day and election night
  • On election night: counts the ballots, completes the related forms and communicates the results to the local Elections Canada office
  • Returns the ballot box and related materials to the returning officer, as instructed, at the end of voting

Overview of Qualifications

  • Be a Canadian citizen
  • Be at least 16 years old on polling day
  • Have experience in receiving and recording personal information from the general public and in completing paperwork or forms
  • Have experience in dealing with the public
  • Have experience in conflict resolution
  • Be tactful and exercise good judgment
  • Remain polite and courteous (demonstrate professionalism)

Remuneration* (Rate is subject to change)

$19.37/hour. Please consult Remuneration for election officers for additional rates.

arrow up Back to top

Information officer

Principal Tasks

  • Helps with setting up and closing the polling place
  • Greets electors at the main or exterior entrance and directs them to the voting room or waiting area in foyers or reception rooms
  • Directs electors to their polling station or registration desk
  • Reminds electors to have their voter information card and ID available and answers their questions
  • Informs electors about any special processes or procedures, including the wearing and availability of masks during COVID-19 and the location of hand sanitizer stations
  • Ensures that entry logs are completed
  • Recognizes when an elector may need extra assistance and helps them as necessary, including opening the door for them if the polling place is not equipped with automatic door openers or ensuring that they have translation services if needed
  • Greets candidates and candidates' representatives and directs them to the CPS or admits them for observation
  • Supports the CPS in ensuring that the polling place remains safe, which includes sanitizing high-touch areas from time to time
  • Ensures that the polling place closes at the prescribed time and that electors who enter the polling place before it closes can exercise their right to vote
  • Helps count the ballots on election night

Overview of Qualifications

  • Be a Canadian citizen
  • Be at least 16 years old on polling day
  • Have good communication skills to effectively provide direction and instructions
  • Have experience in managing large groups to help electors circulate in an orderly fashion
  • Have experience completing simple forms with information from the public or clients
  • Be tactful and exercise good judgment
  • Remain polite and courteous (demonstrate professionalism)

Remuneration* (Rate is subject to change)

$19.37/hour. Please consult Remuneration for election officers for additional rates.

arrow up Back to top

Registration officer

Principal Tasks

  • Sets up the registration desk, materials and posters and prepares the polling place
  • Explains the registration process and ID requirements
  • Consults the poll key to determine electors' polling division
  • Verifies and accepts electors' proof of identity and address information and enforces ID policy
  • Registers new electors or corrects their information and completes relevant paperwork
  • Completes certificates and declarations to finish the vouching process for an elector to have their information vouched for by another elector
  • Ensures that candidates' representatives follow the guidelines
  • Helps count the ballots on election night

Overview of Qualifications

  • Be a Canadian citizen
  • Be at least 16 years old on polling day
  • Have experience in receiving, understanding and recording personal information from the general public and in completing paperwork or forms
  • Have experience in conflict resolution
  • Remain polite and courteous (demonstrate professionalism)

Remuneration* (Rate is subject to change)

$19.37/hour. Please consult Remuneration for election officers for additional rates.

arrow up Back to top

Central poll supervisor

Principal Tasks

  • Manages the polling place and ensures that all partisan material is removed
  • Ensures the safety of poll workers, electors and candidates' representatives, including ensuring there is enough space for physical distancing, signage and protective equipment
  • Confirms the accessibility of the polling place
  • Ensures that polls are set up as required and that they open and close promptly at the prescribed time
  • Ensures that poll workers arrive on time
  • Distributes materials to poll workers
  • Relays information between the office and poll workers
  • Supervises poll workers to ensure procedures are followed and forms are completed correctly
  • Replaces a poll worker who didn't show up or is taking a break by taking on all of their duties
  • Admits candidates' representatives at the polling place and makes sure they follow the guidelines
  • Ensures proper application of Canada Elections Act in the polling place
  • Supervises the counting of the ballots
  • Manages the collection and return of ballot boxes and election materials
  • Provides the returning officer with the results of the count

Overview of Qualifications

  • Be a Canadian citizen
  • Be at least 16 years old on polling day
  • Have experience in managing large groups to help electors circulate in an orderly fashion
  • Have experience in dealing with the public
  • Have experience in conflict resolution

Remuneration* (Rate is subject to change)

$25.62/hour. Please consult Remuneration for election officers for additional rates.

arrow up Back to top

*A training session of approximately three hours will be given to all poll workers. Remuneration for the training is generally three hours of pay.

*Before being worked, all hours of work and expected overtime must be pre-planned and approved by the returning officer.


Hiring Process for Poll Workers

Returning officers are responsible for recruiting poll workers for their electoral district.

In the first seven days of the election cycle, returning officers can recruit up to 50% of the required number of election officers. During the same timeframe, candidates and political parties who endorsed a candidate in the electoral district at the previous electoral event can also provide names of potential poll workers to the returning officer. Once this seven-day timeframe is over, returning officers may solicit names from any other sources. Those interested in working as election officers must possess the necessary skills and qualifications, as listed above.

Ineligibility

As per the Canada Elections Act, the following individuals are not eligible to be poll workers: federal ministers and members of provincial executive councils; senators; sitting members of the House of Commons or of provincial or territorial legislative bodies; certain judges; a person who was a candidate in the last general election or in a by-election held since the last general election; a person who has served in Parliament in the session immediately before the election or in the session in progress at the time of the election; and a person who, within seven years before the proposed appointment, has been found guilty of any offence under the Canada Elections Act or the Referendum Act, or a regulation made under the Referendum Act, or under an Act of the legislature of a province, relating to provincial, municipal or school board elections.