High School Student Election Worker Program

Program History

In 1993 the Nevada State Legislature added to election law to allow high school students to serve as election workers on Election Day.  This special program gives students hands-on experience with the voting process.  Join other high school students throughout Washoe County as they discover firsthand how the American electoral process works.  You’ll have an opportunity to make a difference even before you can cast your vote!

Qualifications to Participate as a Student Election Worker

  • You must be a United States citizen by the time you work on Election Day
  • Be at least 16 years of age
  • Be a current high school student
  • Be a student in good academic standing
  • Have permission of your parent or guardian and school (to attend training) - CLICK HERE for the student election worker permission form

Benefits

  • You will receive $95 for working on Election Day and $25 for attending the mandatory training and $20 for assisting with "Election Eve" pre-setup.
  • You will receive a personalized certificate of thanks from the Registrar of Voters
  • Some schools offer class credit for volunteering on Election Day, especially if you are in a government or political science class (check with your school administrator or teachers)
  • Some schools also offer credit or hours for volunteering on Election Day to fulfill a community service requirement for graduation (check with your school administrator or teacher)

Duties

  • Assist with election eve set-up, set-up on Election Day and break-down at the end of the night
  • Greet and direct voters
  • Check-in voters at the “Intake Station”
  • Direct Voters to sign the roster book and activate voter cards for them
  • Assist with closing the Vote Center at the end of the Election Day, with the assistance of your fellow election workers

Hours of Service

  • Vote Centers are open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Election workers must arrive at 5:30 a.m.
  • The assignment typically concludes at 9 p.m.

Application Procedure

  • Sign up using our election worker application form, CLICK HERE
  • You will need to obtain your parents’ and school’s permission (to attending training if on a school day)
  • One student election worker per Vote Center**

**If you cannot commit to a full day but would like to volunteer a few hours please contact us to discuss other possible options.

Interested in becoming a volunteer election worker?  CLICK HERE to apply.

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NRS 293.2175  Appointment of pupil as trainee: Qualifications; requirements; duties; compensation.

      1.  The county clerk may appoint a pupil as a trainee for the position of election board officer. To qualify for such an appointment, the pupil must be:
      (a) A United States citizen, a resident of Nevada and a resident of the county in which the pupil serves;
      (b) Enrolled in high school; and
      (c) At the time of service, at least 16 years of age.
      2.  The county clerk may only appoint a pupil as a trainee if:
      (a) The pupil is appointed without party affiliation;
      (b) The county clerk sends the pupil a certificate stating the date and hours that the pupil will act as a trainee;
      (c) At least 20 days before the election in which the pupil will act as a trainee, the principal of the high school or the pupil’s assigned school counselor receives the county clerk’s certificate and a written request signed by the pupil’s parent or guardian to be excused from school for the time specified in the certificate;
      (d) The principal of the high school or the assigned school counselor of the pupil approves the pupil’s request; and
      (e) The pupil attends the training class required by NRS 293B.260.
      3.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the county clerk may assign a trainee such duties as the county clerk deems appropriate. The county clerk shall not:
      (a) Require the trainee to perform those duties later than 10 p.m. or any applicable curfew, whichever is earlier; or
      (b) Assign more than one trainee to serve as an election board officer in any one precinct.
      4.  The county clerk may compensate a trainee for service at the same rate fixed for election board officers generally.
      (Added to NRS by 1993, 527; A 1997, 3450; 1999, 263; 2003, 1648)