Precinct Officials Questions and Answers: It'S Fun! It'S Rewarding!
Precinct Officials Questions and Answers: It'S Fun! It'S Rewarding!
Precinct Officials Questions and Answers: It'S Fun! It'S Rewarding!
OFFICE OF ELECTIONS
802 LEHUA AVENUE
PEARL CITY, HAWAII 96782
www.hawaii.gov/elections
Precinct Officials
Questions and Answers
Assisting your neighbors and fellow citizens to vote is a fun, challenging, and a rewarding
experience. This is your opportunity to volunteer your services to the community, and at the same
time gain first-hand knowledge and experience in the electoral process.
This is an excellent opportunity for your nonprofit organization. Not only does your
organization earn money, you are getting involved and participating in the electoral process.
Requirements to participate are:
The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., however precinct officials start at 5:30
a.m. and end at 7:00 p.m.
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WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS? (HRS §11-72)
Restrictions:
• No candidate for elective office may serve as a precinct official in the same
election in which the person is a candidate.
Each polling place consists of a chairperson, voter assistance official(s) (VAOs), and
precinct officials (POs). HRS §11-72.
• Manages the polling place and is responsible for the security and integrity of
ballots issued and votes cast.
• Assists voters and administers special procedures:
1. Curbside voting
2. Language assistance
3. Mail Absentee Ballots
4. Provisional Ballots
5. Spoiled Ballots
6. Voter Registration update
• Organizes and supervises precinct officials and voter activity.
• Ensures that all election procedures are correctly followed.
• Receives the supply box before each election.
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• Maintains inventory and control of all election materials.
• Completes all Election Day documents correctly.
• General Qualifications for a Chairperson:
1. The chairperson shall be the first named precinct official on the list
prepared by the chief election officer. HRS §11-72(b)(4).
2. May belong to any political party or be nonpartisan.
3. Experience in at least two (2) elections is desirable.
4. Experience as a voter assistance official is desirable.
5. Meets all minimum qualifications (please see page 2).
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• Assists the chairperson and/or voter assistance official (VAO) with miscellaneous
duties.
• General Qualifications for a Precinct Official:
1. May belong to any political party or be nonpartisan.
2. Meets all minimum qualifications (see page 2).
• If the alternate is contacted and works in a polling place on Election Day, he/she
will be compensated at the same rate as a precinct official.
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PRECINCT OFFICIAL RECRUITMENT
Pursuant to HRS §11-72, all qualified political parties shall submit names to the chief
election officer by a statutory deadline. The recruitment deadline for the 2010 Elections is
May 21, 2010, 4:30 p.m.
Precinct officials recruited by their respective political party and submitted to the Office
of Elections by the statutory deadline have first priority when being assigned to a specific polling
place. You are encouraged to call the political party of your choice to volunteer your services as a
precinct official.
In the event that all positions are not filled by the political party recruitment deadline,
HRS §11-72 gives the chief election officer the authority to fill the vacancies with any qualified
person, without regard to political party affiliation.
Mail outs to the past elections’ precinct officials, public service announcements, and
presentations by election staff ensure the required number of precinct officials to fully staff the
polling places on Election Day.
Everyone is required to attend at least one training session and pass a certification exam.
Precinct officials will be instructed in the standard operating procedures for each station within
the polling place.
The chairperson of the polling place will assign precinct officials to their workstation.
Precinct officials rotate through all the stations during the course of the day and perform
additional duties that may be required.
WHEN IS TRAINING?
Training sessions are held between June and November. The precinct operations staff
will schedule you to attend a convenient training session in your area.
State law requires precinct officials to work in the precinct in which they vote. However,
if no vacancy exists within your precinct, you will be placed in a precinct within your district. If
no vacancy exists within your district, you will be placed in a neighboring district. The earlier
you volunteer to work, the better your chances for working close to home!
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WILL I BE PAID?
Yes! The compensation rates for each election worked for the 2010 Elections are:
Chairperson – Rates are based on the unit size of the polling place. The
unit size is based on the registered voter count in each precinct.
Contact the Precinct Operations Section for more information at 453-VOTE (8683).
This information is available in alternate formats. If you require special assistance (i.e. large print, taped material, etc.), or for more
information, please contact the Office of Elections, 802 Lehua Avenue, Pearl City, 96782, or call 808-453-VOTE (8683) and on the
Neighbor Island call toll free 1-800-442-VOTE (8683).
This document is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used as an authority on the Hawaii election law and
deadlines. Requirements and/or deadlines may change pending changes in legislation. Consult the Hawaii Revised Statues and other
sources for more detailed and accurate requirements.
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