Poll Manager’s Oath
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been appointed, and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So, help me God.” (Article III, Section 26, S.C. Constitution) (SC Code §7-13-72)
- Poll Managers (18 years of age or older) must be registered to vote in South Carolina.
- Any 16 or 17-year-old can apply to be a Poll Manager Assistant.
- Clerks must be a registered voter in the county in which they are serving or an adjoining county.
- Poll Managers may not be a candidate or the spouse, parent, child, brother, or sister of a candidate at any polling place where the candidate’s name appears on the ballot.
State and County election officials work hard throughout year to ensure that elections are secure and run smoothly, but we can’t do it alone. Election workers play an important role in conducting fair and impartial elections.
Duties
- Process Voters
- Be of service to Voters in the polling place
- Manages the Curbside voting process
- Assist in opening and closing the polling location
- Work amongst all Election Workers to ensure a smooth election process
- Available to work a minimum of 14 hours on Election Day (6:00am to 8:00pm Approximately)
Roles
There are various roles an election worker may serve on election day.
Clerk
The clerk is the lead poll manager and supervises the polling place. It is the clerk’s job to assign roles, arrange the polling place, monitor the flow of traffic, maintain an orderly voting process, complete paperwork, ensure equipment is returned, and ensure state law policies and procedures are followed. The clerk is also responsible for completing the opening and closing checklists.
Assistant Clerk
These are poll managers in training to be future clerks. They assist Clerks in whatever capacity needed during elections.
Poll Managers and Poll Manager’s Assistant
All managers are assigned to a polling place and are responsible for the operation of the polling place under the direction of the Clerk. Poll Manager Assistant is for students who are between the age of 16 and 17 who would like to gain experience working at a polling location on election day, they take on most of the same duties as a poll manager.
The goal of a poll manager is to provide a positive experience for voters while following procedures. Poll managers must remember that security, accountability, and customer service are key.
Training is required for all Election Workers and Polling Location Technicians (PLTs).
- Poll Managers must be trained prior to every election.
- Clerks are required to take clerk training as well as a supplemental training.
- Training dates will be available 45 days out from an Election.
Elections in Richland County cannot be conducted without the helping hands of our community. Different stipends are available depending on your role on Election Day.
- Poll Manager and Poll Manager Assistant Stipend: $135.00
- Assistant Clerk Stipend: $135.00 (Assistant clerks may only be required for major elections at a select amount of polling locations)
- Clerk Stipend: $195.00
A bonus Stipend of up to $50.00 for all County and Statewide elections.
All workers will be paid within 45 days of the election day or subsequent runoff.
Training before every election is required for all positions.
Poll Worker Interest Form(PDF, 357KB)
Apply online to be a Poll Worker
For more information contact the Election Division at election.worker@richlandcountysc.gov or our main office line 803-576-2240.