Be a hero at the polls: Join the team
Johnson County Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt, left, is shown with election workers, left to right, Janet Barchuk, Romona Robson and A.J. Cameron.
By Alyssa Cangelose
Another year brings another election cycle, and the Johnson County Election Office is preparing for the Aug. 4 primary and Nov. 3 general election in 2026.
A vital part of election preparation is recruiting, training and coordinating Johnson County residents to work the polls. Election workers are fundamental to ensuring every citizen’s right to vote by assisting voters from the moment they enter a polling location to when they leave with their “I voted” sticker.
Johnson County Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt regards election workers as the “gatekeepers of democracy. They are vital to the democratic process, and we cannot conduct an election without them,” she said.
Johnson County will need approximately 1,200 election workers for each election this year. They are paid $150 (election workers) to $200 (supervising judges) for each day at voting sites, plus an additional $50–$75 for training.
Why be an election worker? Hear it from Romona Robson, who has assisted at Johnson County elections for more than 14 years. She returns every year because she believes in being an active, helpful citizen for the community.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to get to know people, to help your state and your country,” Robson said.
One of her main reasons for staying involved is “cultivating lifelong friendships with people you would have never met,” as Robson regularly gets together with a group of fellow workers.
Election worker responsibilities at the polls are to greet voters, help with check-in, make sure they understand how to use the voting equipment and answer voter questions.
Polling sites on Election Day open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Election workers also help to set up and take down their designated polling locations before and after voting on Election Day.
A common thread with election workers is the desire to be busy and to be helpful to their communities, while the paycheck is a welcomed perk. Personal connections are also a motivating factor for people to return.
A.J. Cameron has been an election worker for more than 30 years. Part of what keeps him returning is seeing “people that I went to high school with, depending on where I’m working ... it’s nice to see them go through the line.”
However, starting something new can be intimidating. Janet Barchuk fought that feeling and began working elections in 2025. Reflecting on her experience, she said it feels gratifying.
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The election team poses with Votey, a robotic VOTE mobile vehicle used in the Election Office’s Future Voter elementary school student program. Votey was acquired by the Celebration of Patriotism Foundation formed by the office more than 20 years ago.
“I get to be part of something bigger, and I like to think to myself, ‘I helped.’ It’s really the simple stuff,” she said. The Election Office’s team of trainers prepares and supports election workers going into Election Day.
Training left a lasting impression on Barchuk: “The training experience was 100 times better than I expected.” By walking through the steps of what an actual voter does, “it wasn’t overwhelming, they even made it a little bit of fun.”
Training starts the month before each election. For the primary, training will begin after the Fourth of July holiday. Times are offered for mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends to accommodate a variety of schedules.
All three election workers cited how rewarding and flexible the public service experience can be.
Cameron encourages anyone who is considering it to “give it a try and see if it fits. If it does, great! If it doesn’t, at least you gave it a shot.”
Barchuk shared how immediately welcomed she felt: “You do it once and you’re considered part of the team.” For many workers like Barchuk, the work becomes something to look forward to, election after election.
Getting started is simple. The first step is completing an online or paper application on the Election Office website. The application has space to specify requests like polling- place preferences, the distance applicants are willing to travel and even if they prefer to work with their spouse, family member or friend. After applying, the Election Office team will reach out and request additional information.
After getting set up with the Election Worker Portal, applicants will receive an availability survey before each election.
Based on that response, the Election Office assigns workers to polling locations, and applicants can then sign up for training sessions through the portal.
The training prepares applicants who become official election workers the moment that they step into their assigned polling place on Election Day.
“There really is a lot of support, especially for somebody new,” said long-time worker Cameron. Barchuk agreed.
“There’s no stress. It’s not a difficult job at all, and it’s just a really nice experience,” she added.
Election Commissioner Schmidt encourages interested residents to get involved and “experience the passion of serving the voters of Johnson County.”
“They are my Election Day heroes!”
Alyssa Cangelose is Elections Communications Coordinator at the Johnson County Election Office.
Ready to become an election worker?
To qualify, applicants must be:
- A resident of Johnson County
- A current registered voter
- Ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 20 pounds
- Able to stand, walk and move for extended periods (up to one hour) without a break
- Students aged 16 or 17 years old may also apply to be student election workers
Questions? Please call the Johnson County Election Office at 913-715-6836 or email questions to elc-electionworker@jocogov.org. Applications are accessible online at jocoelection.org/election-workers.