What is a polling clerk?

Polling clerks are trained staff members who work at each polling location on Election Day. Polling clerks assist voters with ballots and voting machines, providing information and assistance using the voting technology. Polling clerks are supervised by an election official at each polling site, usually by an election inspector.

Polling clerks play an important role in modern elections. Traditionally, polling clerks simply assisted with the provision and completion of paper ballots. Modern voting technology has put additional responsibility and requirements on the polling clerk. New voting machines and system software often require polling clerks to have training similar to IT professionals.