I remember the first time I voted in-person. It was February 2024, I was twenty two years old, and I had only ever voted absentee while attending college. I walked into my elementary school’s cafeteria with my driver’s license in hand. I was so nervous that I wouldn’t have the proper documentation or that there would be a hiccup of some kind. I sheepishly stepped up to the registration table where a kind young woman walked me through the process. She handed me my Presidential Primary ballot before pointing me toward the voting booths. After voting, I shuffled over to the ballot machine where someone helped me insert my ballot. Upon completion, a young man handed me my “I Voted” sticker. Before I exited, an older man helped me switch back to undeclared. In total, the encounter probably took less than ten minutes, but each interaction with a volunteer poll worker was pivotal in shaping my first in-person voting experience.
Voting is a civic duty and a foundational part of our democracy. Americans are generally proud to exercise their right to vote, but Granite Staters have a particular pride in enacting their right to vote mostly due to the historic “First in the Nation” designation. However, changes to election laws and growing concerns about election administration have raised questions about how Americans experience and perceive our voting systems. One third of Gen Z lacks confidence in the function of our democracy (CIRCLE). And it’s not just young people: only 55% of all Americans feel confident that the upcoming election in November will be “conducted fairly and accurately – down from 61% ahead of the 2024 elections” (Daniller). Marginalized folks feel this even more acutely, avoiding the polls because they’re afraid their citizenship will be called into question, despite being an eligible voter and a lawful citizen. We need to rebuild trust in our voting procedures by fully staffing each polling location with community members committed to protecting their neighbors’ ability to vote.
National poll worker shortages threaten people’s access to the ballot. When a polling location doesn’t have enough volunteers, voters risk being turned away and lines get longer. For minority voters, engaging with poll workers of similar identities increases their faith in our elections (King). It’s not enough to have a certain number of volunteers at each polling place, but volunteers must be friendly, diverse, and adept in their duties. With recent changes to New Hampshire’s election law, confusion among the public could happen more easily. Poll workers help ensure that established procedures are followed, voters receive accurate information, and questions are referred to the appropriate election officials. Sufficient, informed poll workers are essential to ensure a safe, accessible, and positive voting experience.
Poll workers were created to guarantee fair and transparent elections. They have existed in the United States since the 18th century (Spivey). Poll workers have been making sure our elections run smoothly for centuries. Today, poll workers serve the same purpose. Each community has different needs, so the exact role of a poll worker varies based on the district. Training is provided by clerks and moderators beforehand so that volunteers feel prepared to check voters in properly. Volunteers often work in shifts, but each polling location needs poll workers before it opens and after it closes. The only requirements to become a poll worker are that you must be registered to vote and a resident of the voting district. It’s imperative that we continue to empower people to volunteer and make sure every polling place has enough poll workers.
Volunteering on Election Day is a great way to build community trust and strengthen the public’s credence in our elections. Poll workers operate in tandem with their election officials to create a welcoming and competent environment. If we had more poll workers of all ages, with diverse backgrounds, more communities might have increased assurance in our voting systems. Poll workers offer an extra layer of safety to more apprehensive voters and will create a more encouraging environment where every eligible voter feels comfortable casting their vote. The people who serve as poll workers help shape the Election Day experience. By offering accurate information and a welcoming environment, they help voters navigate the process and participate in our democracy.
Sign up to become a poll worker with The Forward Foundation and we’ll connect you to your local election officials!
Works Cited
Daniller, Andrew. “How Confident Are Americans in the Midterm Elections’ Fairness and Accuracy?” Pew Research Center, 5 Aug. 2026, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/08/05/how-confident-are-americans-in-the-midterm-elections-fairness-and-accuracy/.
King, Bridgett. “Descriptive Representation in Election Administration.” MIT Election Lab, 17 May 2018, https://electionlab.mit.edu/articles/descriptive-representation-election-administration.
Spivey, William. “Who Are the Poll Watchers, Historically and Today?” Cultured, 18 Mar. 2026, https://medium.com/cultured-network/who-are-the-poll-watchers-historically-and-today-fc5cc78eed29.
The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement and When We All Vote. “The 50 Million: Gen Z’s Power, Priorities, and Participation.” CIRCLE, 23 Apr. 2026, https://circle.tufts.edu/latest-research/50-million-gen-zs-power-priorities-and-participation
