Poll Commissioners

Individuals who would like to serve as a poll commissioner should come to one of the in-person instruction courses OR take the class online: Commissioner Training and e-mail proof of instruction and this Application to Serve as Election Poll Commissioner to info@clerk25th.com.

For each election, the clerk of court must staff and manage polling locations in throughout Plaquemines Parish (16 precincts in 9 distinct locations). This requires the work and commitment of nearly 100 election commissioners who must be trained to manage the complexities of the voting process. Each precinct is staffed with a commissioner-in-charge and up to four commissioners. These individuals arrive at the precinct at least one-half hour prior to the opening of the polls and remain until post-election paperwork and other tasks are completed after the polls close.

Prior to each primary election, commissioners are selected randomly by the parish board of election supervisors and serve for the primary and general election cycle. A commissioner who has worked at least two elections in the previous four years may take the training and examination for commissioner-in-charge. Commissioners-in-charge are selected randomly by the parish board of election supervisors and serve for a one-year term.

The clerk of court encourages citizens to participate in the elections process as a commissioner, because fully-staffed precincts are essential to the integrity of the voting process.

To be a Commissioner, one must:

1. Be a qualified voter and able to perform the essential duties of a commissioner;
2. Can be 17 years old in 12th grade;
3. Not be a candidate in the election or a child, child’s spouse, brother, brother’s spouse, sister, sister’s spouse, parent, spouse, or parents of the spouse of a candidate in the precinct where serving;
4. Registered to vote in the precinct of the ward or precinct of the parish serving [waived during COVID-19 pandemic];
5. Not have been convicted of an election offense;
6. Not be a law enforcement officer; and
7. Attend training and successfully pass at least 10 questions of a 15-question test.

To be a Commissioner-in-Charge, one must:

1. Be a qualified voter and able to perform the essential duties of a commissioner;
2. Not be a candidate in the election or a child, child’s spouse, brother, brother’s spouse, sister, sister’s spouse, parent, spouse, or parents of the spouse of a candidate in the precinct where serving;
3. Not have been convicted of an election offense;
4. Served as a commissioner in at least two elections in the last four years;
5. Not be a law enforcement officer; and
6. Attend training and successfully pass at least 15 questions of a 20-question test.

An election commissioner receives:

1. A stipend of $200.00 ($250 for commissioners-in-charge);
2. A great opportunity to support his/her community; and
3. Participation in ensuring a transparent, accurate, and orderly election process.

• Application to Serve as Election Poll Commissioner
• Commissioner Training
• Commissioner-In-Charge Training
• Provisional Voting Federal Elections Training

Individuals who would like notice of future dates of the courses of instruction should contact the clerk of court at (504) 934-6610 or info@clerk25th.com or take the online courses of instruction above.