Fayette County needs hundreds of poll workers for upcoming elections. How you can help

Kentucky voters will get the chance to weigh in on a slate of state, federal, and local offices in elections held this year.

That includes the May 19th primary, where several candidates are challenging incumbent Linda Gorton in a race for Lexington's next Mayor.

However, for local elections to run smoothly, Fayette County needs enough poll workers – also called elections officers – to welcome voters, verify registrations, issue ballots and generally walk people through the process.

Right now, Fayette County needs about 1,200 registered voters who can serve as elections officers at 122 voting locations, according to Gilda Waters, Manager of Elections within the Fayette County Clerk's Office.

The County Clerk's Office uses political party parity at all locations to ensure fairness in the voting process, recruiting a balance of Republicans, Democrats and Independents.

If you feel called to serve your community or just want an insider's look at how elections work in Kentucky, here's what to know:

Who can apply?

To qualify to serve as an elections officer in Fayette County, you must meet the following criteria, according to the Fayette County Clerk's Office:

1. Voter registration location

• You must be a registered voter in the precinct where you serve, unless you're appointed as an alternate. Alternates must be registered voters in Fayette County.
• Registered 17-year-olds can serve in the primary election, provided they'll turn 18 year old on or before the general election date.

2. Party affiliation

• For the primary election: You cannot change your party registration after December 31st of the year before your appointment.
• For the general election: You cannot change your party registration after the second Tuesday in August of the election year.

3. Language skills

• You must be able to read and write in English.

4. Training requirements

• You're required to attend all training sessions mandated by the Fayette County Board of Elections before the primary or general election. In Fayette County, that includes an online training course and an in-person training.

5. Candidate and family restrictions

• You cannot serve as an elections officer, you cannot be a candidate for office during the election year.
• Additionally, you cannot serve if you are the spouse, parent, sibling, or child of a candidate on the ballot in your precinct.

6. Work hours and physical requirements

• Fayette County requires availability from 5:15 a.m. until polls close and voting machines are shut down for the day. Typically, that happens around 6:30 or 7 p.m. In Fayette County, elections officers are paid $250 for the day.

7. Transportation

• You must have reliable transportation to training sessions, to pick up or drop off election supplies, and to your assigned precinct on Election Day.

How to sign up to be a poll worker

Registered voters can sign up online at govote.ky.gov, a self-serve government website where you can also register to vote or update your voter registration status.

For more information, contact the Fayette County Board of Elections, located at 162 East Main Street, by calling 859-253-8352 or 859-253-8354.