Virginia needs 15,000 election officials to make things run smoothly on Election Day

Governor Glenn Youngkin is encouraging Virginians to sign up to serve as Officers of Election to ensure accurate and secure elections this November.

Wednesday, August 23rd is designated as National Poll Worker Recruitment Day by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and provides an opportunity to highlight the important work of officers of election inside polling places.

Each year, thousands of Virginia voters participate in the election process not just by casting ballots but by working in their polling place as Officers of Election (Virginia’s title for poll workers).

“We are grateful to Virginia’s Officers of Election who staff polling places, check-in voters and ensure accurate and secure elections in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “But as some of our most reliable, long-serving officers are retiring, we need new officers to sustain our efforts. We are asking every eligible voter in Virginia to consider serving their community in this way.”

All Election Day polling locations and early voting locations need Officers of Election for every day that they are open, requiring more than 15,000 officers of election to staff voting locations across the Commonwealth.

Officers of Election must be qualified Virginia voters. Anyone interested in becoming an Officer of Election should review the information found at Virginia Department of Elections - Officer of Elections and fill out the online application.

Officers of Election are compensated for their service and Virginia law requires employers to allow anyone who serves as an Officer of Election to take leave on Election Day without using vacation time or being subject to disciplinary action.

Election Day is November 7, 2023, with early voting beginning on Friday, September 22. All 140 seats in the General Assembly as well as local offices will be on the ballot this fall.