Ways to participate in the Election Process
Register voters
Duties of Volunteer Deputy Registrars
- Accept applications for voter registration from residents of Bexar County who are not already registered to vote
- Accept change forms from registered voters who wish to change information on their voter registration certificates
- Hand out applications for requesting replacements of missing voter registration certificates.
- Help an applicant fill out the registration application if the applicant cannot read or has a physical disability
Qualifications
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Be a United States citizen
- Not have been determined by final judgment of a court to be totally mentally incapacitated, or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote
- Not have been finally convicted of a felony, or if convicted, must have fully discharged the sentence, including parole, or supervision; or been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disability to vote
- Never been convicted of failing to deliver a voter registration application to a voter registrar
More to know
- You must complete a 30-minute class using standardized curriculum at the Bexar County Elections Office or the online class from the Texas Secretary of State (For the latter, you also must pass a test in person at the Elections Office.) Call the Elections Office at 210-335-6625 for training dates, times and locations.
- All appointments expire on December 31 of the next even-numbered year
- There is no pay for registering voters
Work at the polls
There are three positions at the polls: The Presiding Judge is in charge of and responsible for the management and conduct of the election at the polling place. The Alternate Judge serves as a clerk but must step in as judge if the presiding judge is not there. The Clerk's activities are directed by the Presiding Judge.
Presiding Judge or Alternate Judge
Pay
- $17 per hour for presiding judge, $16 per hour for alternate judge, during the time the polls are open
- $25 for taking the returns to a designated Regional Sending
Requirements and responsibilities
- Be a registered voter in Bexar County
- Attend 8-hour certification class and pass test by 70% score
- Remain certified by taking a test every two years and passing with a 70% score
- Attend a class before the election when applicable
- Visit vote center the day before the election
- Pick up of supplies at the Election Warehouse before the election
- Return the supplies the night of the election to a designated Regional Sending Site
You cannot be a judge if:
- You hold an elected office
- You are a candidate, or candidates campaign treasurer or campaign manager for candidate in that election
- You are an employee or relative of an opposed candidate in that election
Election clerk
Pay
- $15 per hour during the time the polls are open
Requirements and responsibilities
- Be a registered voter in Bexar County
- Called to duty by Judge
- Receive training and assignments from the Election Judge
- Not required, but encouraged to attend certification class and/or information classes for particular election
For more information, go to bexar.org/elections and click on Participate in the Process.
Student Election Clerk
Pay
- $15 per hour during the time the polls are open with election worker certification training, $12 per hour without certification training
Requirements and responsibilities
- Be at least 16 years old on Election Day;
- Be enrolled in a public, private, or qualified home school;*
- Be a U.S. citizen;
- Have consent of his/her parent or legal guardian to work the election;
- Have consent of his/her school principal* (or parent/legal guardian for home-schooled students); and
- Complete any required election worker training program.
Visit the Texas Secretary of State page on Student Election Clerk Information for more important information.
Be a poll watcher
To be a poll watcher, you must be appointed by a candidate, party or issue group whose measure is on the ballot . Poll watchers observe and report on irregularities in the conduct of any election, but may not interfere in the orderly conduct of an election.
Requirements and responsibilities
- Complete the online training program created by the office of the Secretary of State, after which you will receive a certificate
To be accepted for service at a polling site:
- Present ballot to the presiding judge of the polling place, early voting ballot board, signature verification committee or central counting station a certificate of completion of the training and a certificate of appointment from the candidate, party, or issue
For more information, go to
https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/laws/advisory2022-09.shtml
Help voters with problems
Election Protection volunteers, also known as poll monitors stand outside polling sites to answer questions about the process or refer voters to legal resources if they have issues with voting. The nonpartisan Texasvoterprotection.org trains volunteers for that and other ways to serve voters. For information and to sign up to be trained, go to the site and click on the “Volunteer” box.