How to become a poll worker in the Houston area for 2026 midterm election

Houston-area residents interested in working the Nov. 3 election can start with their county’s election office to check eligibility, training, and available assignments.

Texas early voting runs Oct. 19-30. With voting approaching, prospective workers should ask whether their county can still place and train new applicants for this election. An application page does not guarantee an available position.

Who can become a poll worker?

The Texas Secretary of State lists U.S. citizenship and qualified-voter status in the jurisdiction conducting the election among the basic eligibility requirements. Please have your county confirm the requirements for the particular position.

Harris County’s November training page says adult vote-center workers must be registered voters in Harris County. It identifies high school students as an exception through the student-worker program.

SEE MORE: Texas election guide 2026 – Dates, voting requirements and Houston-area contacts

How to apply in Harris County

Start with the county’s election-worker application page.

Harris County tells applicants to wait until they have a confirmed vote-center placement before signing up for training. Without placement confirmation, the county says it cannot guarantee payment for the class.

The county also encourages applicants who speak and read Spanish, Vietnamese, or Chinese in addition to English for the class.

For the Nov. 3, 2026, election, Harris County’s dedicated training page says workers need one training class. Call 713-755-6965 to confirm which class meets the requirements and ask about remaining assignments.

Where to start in neighboring counties

• Fort Bend – Fort Bend County provides election-worker application information online. Email the Elections Department at vote@fortbendcountytx.gov to confirm whether it is still accepting applicants for November.
• Montgomery – Contact Montgomery County Elections at 936-539-7843 about placement. Its November training page says workers should not expect an early-voting assignment unless contacted by the office or an early-voting judge.
• Brazoria – Use the county’s poll-worker application page. Ask the election office about remaining November assignments and training.
• Galveston – Galveston County directs prospective election workers to its online Poll Worker Portal or to call 409-770-5108. Applicants interested in the Nov. 3 election should ask whether assignments remain available and confirm eligibility requirements, training dates, pay and expected working hours.

ALSO READ: Massive Texas backlog of voter registrations that scrambled workers has been cleared, state says

Do poll workers get paid?

Pay depends on the county and position.

Applicants should ask about their county’s current pay rate, training pay conditions, and expected payment schedule.

Can high school students work the polls?

Texas has a student election-clerk program for eligible students who are at least 16 on Election Day.

Requirements include U.S. citizenship, enrollment in a public, private, or qualified home school, required approval from a parent or guardian and the school, and completion of training. Student clerks are eligible for compensation.

Harris County’s student-worker page links to its application. The county recommends applying at least 60 days before Election Day, while noting there is no statutory deadline. Since the recommended lead time has passed, please contact the office about remaining opportunities.

What should you ask before accepting?

Ask the election office:

• Are you still placing new workers for Nov. 3?
• Which role and location would I be assigned?
• What training must I complete?
• What are the pay rate and training-pay conditions?
• When do I show up, and how late could the assignment run?
• Have you worked an election in the Houston area? Tell ENOUGH what a first-time applicant should know.