Become an Election Worker—Experience Democracy Up Close
Would you like to experience democracy firsthand and get a behind-the-scenes look at an election? Then support us by volunteering as an election worker.
Election assistants wanted.
In every election (federal, European, state, local, and mayoral elections), numerous volunteer election workers ensure that the election is conducted properly and that the election results are subsequently determined.
On this page, you’ll find the online form as well as answers to the most important questions about serving on an election board.
If we’ve piqued your interest, we’d be delighted if you’d sign up as an election worker and actively help ensure the election runs smoothly.
The easiest way to sign up is through our online form. You can also use it to register your interest for future elections. Alternatively, you can contact the Election Office by email or by phone at 0611-31 4501.
You can sign up here:
Online form for election assistants
Note
Once the Election Office receives your consent form, you will first be added to a preliminary list. All those to be appointed will receive a letter of appointment. This letter will also specify the polling place where they are to report on Election Day.
FAQs on Serving as an Election Worker
What is an election board?
An election board is formed for each electoral district. In Wiesbaden, there are currently 163 polling districts and 84 absentee ballot districts. An election board is required for each of these electoral districts.
An election board consists of up to nine people:
Election chairperson,
a deputy chairperson,
a secretary,
a deputy secretary, and
up to five members.
In total, more than 2,200 election workers are needed in Wiesbaden.
What are the duties of an election committee?
Your duties will vary depending on whether you are assigned to a polling place or a mail-in voting district.
In a polling station
The election board ensures that the election is conducted properly at the polling place. This includes, in particular:
preparing for and conducting the election,
distributing ballots,
verifying voter eligibility,
supervising the voting process,
ensuring compliance with the prohibition on influencing voters,
the counting of votes, and
determining and reporting the election results.
In the absentee voting district
Absentee ballot committees are not responsible for conducting the election at the polling place. Their task is to review and approve the absentee ballots and then determine the absentee ballot results.
What are the duties of the election chairperson?
The election chairperson presides over the entire election board.
Among the most important duties are:
assigning tasks within the election committee,
opening and closing the voting process,
opening the ballot box for the deposit of ballots (ballot box polling district),
supervising the opening and verification of absentee ballots (in a district with absentee voting),
supervising the counting of votes,
to announce the election results verbally and to report them to the election office.
What are the duties of the secretary?
The secretary is responsible, in particular, for documenting the election in writing.
Duties include:
recording the checkmarks in the voter registry (polling district),
verifying voter eligibility based on the election documents,
completing the election record,
collecting the documents required for record-keeping in a timely manner before the election (ballot box precinct).
If the secretary is unable to attend, the alternate secretary assumes these duties. Otherwise, the alternate secretary assists the election board as an assessor.
What are the duties of the board members?
Assessors assist the Election Committee with all necessary tasks.
These include, in particular:
distributing ballots (polling station),
regulating access to the polling place and voting booths (polling district),
Yes. Before each election, all election workers receive important information and materials to help them prepare. In addition, training sessions are held well in advance of the election.
Training and informational resources are made available online before each election.
What kind of expense reimbursement is available?
Your commitment will, of course, be rewarded: You will receive an expense allowance of 60 euros for your service on Election Day. Secretaries receive 85 euros (75 euros for absentee ballot districts), as they are also responsible for picking up and returning the election materials.
We will transfer the money to your account after the election.
Do I have to be on duty the entire election day?
That depends on whether you are assigned to a polling place or a mail-in voting district.
Assignment in a polling station
The entire election board meets at 7:30 a.m. on Election Sunday at the polling place specified in the appointment letter.
At the start, the election board will be divided into a morning and an afternoon shift.
Morning shift: You will be at the polling place in the morning and may go home after your shift. You must be present again starting at 6:00 p.m. for the vote count.
Afternoon shift: You should be at the polling place starting at 12:30 p.m. to ensure a smooth handover. You will then remain there until the results are finalized.
Duty in the Absentee Ballot District
The members of a mail-in ballot committee meet in the afternoon at the time specified in the appointment letter—currently at 3:00 p.m.
Preparatory work is completed by the end of voting hours. The counting of mail-in ballots begins at 6:00 p.m.
How long does the assignment last in total?
An exact end time cannot be specified. The assignment ends as soon as the election results have been determined and all necessary closing procedures have been completed.
Breaks are arranged independently by the election board members.
Who can become an election worker?
In principle, any person who is eligible to vote in the respective election may serve as an election official.
How do you become an election worker?
You can volunteer to serve as an election worker.
The Election Office will first add your information to a preliminary list. If you are assigned to an election, you will receive a letter of appointment containing all the important information.
In principle, the Election Office may also require eligible voters to serve as election workers under certain conditions. However, we particularly welcome volunteers.
Can I make any requests regarding my assignment?
Yes. For example, you can send requests
regarding the assignment location,
your role on the election committee, or
working alongside acquaintances or relatives
.
The Election Office always strives to accommodate your requests, but this is not always possible. The Election Office therefore asks for your understanding. However, there is no entitlement to a specific assignment location or role.
When will I find out where I'll be assigned?
Before the election, you will receive a letter of appointment.
It will include, among other things:
the number and name of your voting precinct,
the address of the polling place,
the time the meeting begins,
important information about your duties, and
instructions regarding the training materials.
A declaration of acceptance is also enclosed with this letter. Please confirm your acceptance or decline as soon as possible and provide the required information.
Important: Keep the appointment letter until Election Day. Once you have confirmed your acceptance, you will not receive another appointment letter.
What happens if I can't make it at the last minute?
If you are unable to participate in the election for an important reason, please notify the election office as soon as possible.
This will allow us to find a replacement for your position in a timely manner.
Do I have to re-register before every election?
No. If you have voluntarily registered as an election worker, your information will generally be stored in the election worker database. This means you may also be considered for future elections.
If you have objected to the storage of your data, you will need to register again if you wish to serve as an election worker in the future.
Can I withdraw my voluntary report?
Yes. If you no longer wish to serve as an election worker in the future, you may object in writing—for example, by email—to the continued storage of your data.
Your data will then be deleted from the election worker database. The Election Office will subsequently notify you of the deletion.
Do I need to bring anything with me for the activity?
The Election Office will provide the documents and supplies needed to serve on the election board.
We recommend that you bring your own food and drinks for Election Day. The Election Office cannot provide meals.
The postal voting office in the polling station is only staffed six weeks before each election, but the above telephone number can also be reached outside of election times.
