Election Workers Sought In Fairfax County, Pay Starts At $175

FAIRFAX, VA — Voters will be heading to the polls for the 2020 presidential primary, and Fairfax County's Office of Elections is hiring 2,100 election officers to help at the polls. The Democratic presidential primary will be held on Tuesday, March 3, also known as Super Tuesday. There will not be a Republican primary, as the party will instead choose delegates to send to the national convention.

If you're a registered Virginia voter who isn't an elected official and doesn't work for an elected official, you are eligible to be an election officer. Applicants must be available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day or later (polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Duties will include setting up voting equipment, checking photo IDs and names on the electronic poll book, providing instructions and assistance for using voting machines, and tabulating results when polls close.

Election officers should have good communication skills, enjoy being around people, have high energy and be detail oriented and patient. Computer and bilingual skills are also valuable. Bilingual officers who can speak Korean or Vietnamese are also needed, especially in Annandale, Centreville and Falls Church.

SEE ALSO: Presidential Primary 2020: Early Voting, Deadlines In Fairfax Co.

Pay for the election officer position starts at $175, but election officers can also offer to volunteer their time. Election officers must work at least one general election before being considered for an assistant chief election officer, which pays $225, or chief election officer, which pays $250.

Fairfax County is the largest voting jurisdiction in Virginia with 243 precincts. The county's Office of Elections will assign election officers to a precinct as close to your home precinct when possible. If there are no vacancies at your precinct, you will be assigned to a nearby precinct or the Central Absentee Precinct at the Fairfax County Government Center.

Before working at the polls, new election officers must attend training that lasts around three hours. Current election officers undergo additional training if required or there's a change in voting equipment. Working at the polls is considered a valid excuse for absentee voting in Virginia.

The other upcoming elections are the June 9, 2020 primary election and Nov. 3, 2020 general election.

To apply for an election officer position, visit www.vote4fairfax.com/apply. See more information on the county's election officer page.