Maricopa County hiring 4,000-plus election workers

Maricopa County has begun hiring more than 4,000 temporary workers to help administer the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, opening paid positions that range from neighborhood poll work to ballot processing, technical support and warehouse operations.

The county announced the hiring effort Sept. 14. It matters across the West Valley because the election system serves voters in every Maricopa County city, town, school district and special district, and many of the jobs involve staffing voting locations throughout the county.

Maricopa County Elections said eligible workers may receive a $1,250 incentive in addition to hourly pay. The release did not say every hire will qualify, so applicants should confirm the incentive rules for the specific job they seek.

Two broad groups of jobs

The hiring target includes poll workers as well as nearly 500 temporary operations positions supporting in-person voting, tabulation and other election functions.

Operations jobs include warehouse drivers, technical-support workers, ballot couriers, tabulation staff and hotline workers. The county lists pay of $18 to $23 an hour for those positions, depending on the job and experience. Assignments may last from several days to several months.

Poll-worker assignments include inspectors, judges, marshals, clerks, voter-registration clerks and troubleshooters. The county’s temporary-positions page lists starting pay of $15.15 an hour for poll workers. Assignments can span 28 days, eight days, four days, two days or Election Day only, depending on need and location.

For Election Day assignments, the county lists a schedule beginning at 5:30 a.m. and running until approximately 8 p.m. Election Day-only placements are limited and are not guaranteed.

Requirements and working conditions

Poll-worker applicants must be at least 18 and registered to vote in Arizona. The county also requires temporary operations workers to be registered Arizona voters and pass an applicable background screening. Schedules vary, and many positions require open availability and a willingness to work with people from different political parties.

Some assignments are physically demanding. Depending on the role, workers may need to stand or sit for long periods, lift at least 25 pounds, move heavier equipment or work extended hours and weekends. Certain courier, troubleshooting and support positions require a driver’s license, current insurance and access to a reliable vehicle.

Several ballot-handling duties are performed in bipartisan teams. Ballot processors, couriers and warehouse drivers, for example, may be paired with a worker from a different political affiliation. The county says all employees receive training based on Arizona election law.

Applications and detailed job descriptions are available through the county’s Get Involved with Elections page. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.

Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration depicting election-worker training. It does not show an actual Maricopa County facility or identifiable workers.