2025-26 Democracy Heroes Form

Submitted by bvalentine1 on
Silhouette of a diverse crowd interested in election work, standing behind a "vote" logo.

Serve Democracy: Work in Elections

Elections officials in North Carolina counties are looking for election workers for upcoming elections. You can protect democracy, learn how elections work, and get paid in the process!

What Do Election Workers Do?

  • Staff polling places during early voting and on Election Day.
  • Set up and close down the voting enclosure.
  • Check in voters and issue ballots.
  • Assist voters upon request.

Do You Qualify?

To serve as an election worker on Election Day, you must be a registered voter or be a high school student who is at least 17 years old and in good academic standing (this does not apply to early voting). Check your voter registration status by entering your information into the Voter Search. Not registered yet? Find out how to register.

Precinct officials may not be a candidate or relative of a candidate in the election. They also may not be an elected government official, hold office with a political party or be a manager or treasurer for a candidate or political party. They also may not serve at the same polling place as a spouse, child, spouse of a child, sister, or brother.

Ready to Lend a Hand?

Please complete the form below. If your services are needed in the county where you are registered, a county election official will contact you. Filling out this form does not mean you will automatically be selected as an election worker.

Judges are recommended by the two major political parties and appointed by their respective county board of elections. Assistants are recommended by political parties or recruited by the county board after completing an application.

Indicates required field
Are you a high school student?

Student Election Assistants

In North Carolina, high school students may serve as student election assistants. To become a student election assistant, you must:

  • Be 17 years old by Election Day;
  • Be a United States citizen;
  • Reside in the district you wish to serve in;
  • Be enrolled in a secondary educational institution with an exemplary academic record as determined by that institution;
  • Be recommended by the principal or director of the institution; AND
  • Have the consent of a parent, legal custodian, or guardian.
Do you affirm that you meet the requirements of a Student Election Assistant as outlined above?

You are not eligible to become a Student Election Assistant unless you meet the requirements.

Are you registered to vote in North Carolina?
Do you have a different mailing address?

Your mailing address (if different from above)

What is your preferred contact method?
If needed, are you willing to work outside of your precinct?
Would you be interested in serving as an early voting worker?
On Election Day, election workers generally work from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Election workers are also required to attend approximately 3 to 4 hours of paid training prior to working. Are you able to commit to this schedule?
Election workers perform a variety of tasks. Which of these are you able to perform? (Select all that apply.)

In place of the Democracy Heroes survey, the Buncombe County Board of Elections recommends that registered voters interested in becoming poll workers complete the form at their poll worker website. If you have questions, contact the Buncombe County Board of Elections at elections@buncombecounty.org.