The benefits of being a Precinct Official
- Earn extra cash
- Serve your community
- Meet your neighbors
- Learn about elections
- Make new friends
- Fulfill your civic duty
- Looks good on a resume
What do Precinct Officials do?
- They work at one of Cumberland County’s polling places.
- Arrive prior to the opening of the polling place. Polls open at 6:30 a.m.
- Remain at the polling place after the polls close at 7:30 p.m. and until all work is complete
- Set up the polling place the day before the election with voting equipment, voting booths and required signage and supplies and take down and remove these items after the polls close.
- Assist voters with accessible voting equipment
- Data entry for voter lookup and printing forms/reports
- Assist curbside voters
The Statutory Positions are:
(click on one title to find out more about each position's responsibilities)
Chief Judge
- Each precinct is managed by the Chief Judge.
Judge
- Two appointed judges work directly under the direction of the Chief Judge.
Assistant
- Assists the Chief Judge and Judges and works under the direction of the Chief Judge
How much will you get paid?
What are the Qualifications and Requirements
to become a Precinct Official?
- Family members may not serve as a precinct official at the same polling place
- Chief Judges and Judges are appointed by the board members of the Cumberland County Board of Elections
- There is one Chief Judge and two Judges assigned to every polling place
- Multiple assistants may be assigned to one polling place depending on the need
If you would like to become a Precinct Official click here to complete your application.
Are you a Student and interested in becoming a Student Election Assistant?
- You must be 17 years of age at the time of the primary or election that you are applying to work in
- You must be a United States Citizen
- You must be a resident of Cumberland County
- You must be enrolled in a secondary education institute (including home school) with an exemplary academic record
If interested, fill out the Student Election Assistant Application and mail it to the Cumberland County Board of Elections at least 30 days before the election you wish to work.
Multipartisan Assistance Team
A multipartisan assistance team, or “MAT,” is a group appointed by a county board of elections to assist with mail-in absentee voting and other services to voters living at facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes.
A MAT includes, at a minimum, two people who have different party affiliations (or, in the alternative, persons who were unanimously appointed by a bipartisan county board of elections). If you request help from a MAT, you should receive impartial, professional assistance. Their job is to help you vote, but your voting choices will remain confidential.
MAT's are authorized to help voters in the following ways, with specific legal requirements:
- Providing voter registration services
- Requesting an absentee ballot
- Serving as an absentee witness
- Marking the absentee ballot
- Sealing the ballot and completing the absentee application
- Mailing the voted absentee ballot in the closest U.S. mail depository or mailbox, if the voter has a disability
In the event that a resident requires the help of a team member with the actual marking of a ballot, the voter’s selection is kept in strict confidence.
If interested in having the Multi-partisan Assistance Team visit your facility or you need additional information click on Multipartisan Assistance.
Important Information - Recent Court Case
Important Note: In July 2022, a federal court issued an order that struck down state laws barring certain individuals from helping a voter request, complete, or submit an absentee ballot, if that voter needs help due to a disability.
As a result of that order, an absentee voter who needs assistance voting due to a disability generally may receive assistance from any person they choose
.
The only restrictions are that persons witnessing a ballot must be at least 18 years old and may not be a candidate (unless a person in a care facility asks a candidate to assist due to disability). Voters in care facilities may still request and use a MAT team, but they are not required to do so if they need assistance due to a disability. Voters who need assistance due to a disability may receive assistance from the staff of the hospital, clinic, nursing home, or rest home where they are a patient or resident. They may also receive assistance from an elected official, political party officeholder, or candidate.
The following individuals are still prohibited from assisting absentee voters who do not need assistance voting due to disability, if
that voter is a patient/resident of a hospital, clinic, nursing home or rest home:
- Any owner, manager, director, or employee of the hospital, clinic, nursing home, or rest home
- An individual who holds any elective office
- An individual who holds any office in a State, congressional district, county, or precinct political party or organization, or who is a campaign manager or treasurer for any candidate or political party
Hosting a Voter Registration Drive
The decision to conduct a voter registration drive is an important one. Voter registration is fundamental to elections and the democratic process. While helping people register to vote is vital, organizers must follow North Carolina law.
Any individual, group, or organization that desires to conduct a voter registration drive may do so. No special training is required. Organizers and participants should carefully follow the requirements and instructions as outlined in the Voter Registration Drive Information Page on the
NC State Board of Elections Web Page for Hosting a Voter Registration Drive.