Qualifications

• "Persons appointed … must be registered voters and residents of the county in which the precinct is located, of good repute, and able to read & write.
• "No person shall be eligible to serve as a precinct official … who holds any elective office under the government of the United States or of North Carolina or any political subdivision there of."
• "No person shall serve … who is a candidate for nomination or election."
• "No person shall be eligible … who holds any office in a state, congressional district, county, or precinct political party or political organization, or who is a manager or treasurer for any candidate or political party, provided … a precinct official can be a delegate to a political party convention."

- NC General Statutes 163-41

Precinct election officials can be recommended by the political parties and are appointed by the Board of Elections for a two-year term beginning in August of odd-numbered years and every two years thereafter.

Each voting place is staffed with a Chief Judge, two Judges, Pprvisional/Transfer Assistant and allotted Assistants. The Chief Judge is appointed by the Board of Elections based on political party and staff recommendations. The two Judges represent each political party respectively. The Provisional/Transfer Assistant is chosen from among the assistants. Assistants should represent both parties and appropriate racial minorities, whenever possible. Only one member of a family may serve as a precinct election official/assistant within the same precinct.

The Chief Judge is the head official and is in charge of contacting the voting place, custodian and the other officials to make arrangements for each election. The Chief Judge is also responsible for handling Election Day activities, as well as mailing returns after the election.

The Judges work closely with the Chief Judge and are responsible for conducting the election in the Chief Judge's absence. They must sign all official documents and serve on a panel to resolve any challenges. The Chief Judge assigns all other duties.

The Provisional/Transfer Assistant is responsible for handling provisional and transfer voters. They must attend training sessions and become proficient in the laws governing these voters.

The Assistants serve when needed and at the discretion and direction of the Chief Judge. The Chief Judge assigns all duties.

There are approximately five elections scheduled in each two-year term. (Special referenda and bond elections also may be called.) The Chief Judge, two Judges and Provisional/Transfer Assistant are required to work each election. Assistants are allotted when needed.

Elections are always held on Tuesday. All polls are open from 6:30AM until 7:30PM.

Day before the election (if possible) set up the precinct and check machines.

Officials must be in the voting place at 6:00AM and remain until all votes have been counted and documents signed -- usually by 8:30PM. General Statute 163-67 requires that all officials remain at the voting place for the entire day. Assistants may work, no less than, 7-hour shifts. No precinct election official may leave the voting place except in extreme emergencies.

GS 163-46 requires Officials to attend training sessions conducted by the Board of Elections prior to each major primary and general election. (Assistants are not required to attend training sessions but are instructed on their duties by the Chief Judge. The Chief Judge and the Judges are issued an Iinstructions For Conducting Elections notebook at the required training session. The Provisional/Transfer Assistant are issued PROVISIONAL/TRANSFER VOTING PROCEDURE notebook at the training session. They receive training concerning specific issues affecting the upcoming election. Precinct election officials are paid to attend these training sessions in addition to their Election Day compensation.