Legislation doubling pay for election precinct officials takes effect

An election judge helps a voter submit his ballot at the Millwood Field House during the June 18 primary election. Precinct worker pay doubled July 1. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY – Precinct officials’ pay for a workday has doubled.

Effective July 1, precinct officials received a pay increase from $110 a day to $225 a day for inspectors and from $100 a day to $200 a day for judges and clerks. Oklahoma’s 77 county election boards are required to have these three precinct officials.

Misha Mohr, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Election Board, said precinct officials serve in Oklahoma’s nearly 2,000 precincts.

“So we’re hoping to make sure that we are able to fill all of those positions, and it’s especially important, like I said, when it comes to that November general election, because all of our precincts do need to be filled,” Mohr said.

Lawmakers approved the pay in 2023 with SB 290 .

Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said in a statement that he thinks the pay increase will improve recruitment efforts.

“Precinct officials are vital to the success of elections,” Ziriax said. “We are extremely grateful to our state leaders for passing legislation that not only shows our current poll workers how much we appreciate them – but also supports recruitment and retention efforts across the state.”

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but poll workers are required to arrive an hour early and stay until the last ballot is cast. Workers verify voter identification, distribute ballots and ensure election integrity. Officials oversee the election process and deliver ballots to their respective county election board headquarters at the end of the day.

In September, workers said the raise was “desperately needed” and a “wonderful thing.”

No experience is needed to serve as a precinct official, but officials must work in the county they are registered to vote in. Mandatory training is provided.

Mohr said precinct officials are “absolutely vital” to the state’s elections.

“Without them, our county election boards could not run elections,” Mohr said. “We depend on them to man each and every one of those polls.”

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