Election volunteers wanted!

Whether you can serve as an election worker depends largely on the election in question. It is important that you are eligible to vote. Here are the most important requirements for election workers:

* Although you must be at least 60 years old to vote in the Senior Citizens' Council election, the minimum age for election workers is 16, since the election is conducted in accordance with local election law.

You can work as an election assistant in a polling station or in a postal voting station.

We can almost always accommodate requests to be assigned to a specific polling place or to work with your favorite team. You are welcome to register as a complete team (up to 9 people).

Polling hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Starting at 6:00 p.m., you will count the ballots and work as a team to determine the election results.

If you’re volunteering at a polling place, your team will first meet at 7:30 a.m. on Election Day to discuss whether and how shifts can be arranged. There is usually a morning shift and an afternoon shift. All election workers must then remain on duty from 6:00 p.m. until the vote count is complete.

If you volunteer at a mail-in voting location, you will be on duty continuously on Election Day from 1:00 p.m. until the vote count is complete. Breaks are always possible.

As an election worker, you are part of an election board consisting of six to nine members. Working together in various roles, you ensure that the election is conducted properly. The election board consists of:

• The presiding officer and his or her deputy
• three to seven members, two of whom will serve as secretary and deputy secretary

• Together with the other members of the election committee, they set up the polling station. This includes, for example, setting up the ballot boxes and booths, attaching the public notice and sample ballot papers as well as the signage in the building on the way to the polling station.
• They oblige the members of the election committee to perform their duties impartially and to maintain secrecy in the sense of electoral secrecy.
• They chair the election committee, open and close the election and count the votes.
• They settle disputes in the polling station.
• They ensure political neutrality in the polling place.
• Their vote shall be decisive in the event of a tie vote in the election committee.
• They coordinate the proper counting of votes.
• After the results have been tallied, they work with the secretary to verify that all members of the election committee have signed the minutes.
• You pass on the election results for your constituency by telephone to a central collection point.
• You hand in the election record and the election documents.

• They maintain the voter registry and accept ballots (only at polling places).
• After 6:00 p.m., you will tally the number of voters at your polling place (ballot box polling place)
• They are responsible for the proper completion of the minutes.
• Once the results have been determined, sign the minutes.
• Once the tallying of votes is complete, they work with the election chair to verify that all members of the election committee have signed the minutes.

General:

• Together, they set up the polling place and put up signs and election notices
• They ensure that the election proceeds in an orderly manner

• They help to count the votes.
• Please return the polling place to the condition in which you found it.

• In any case, working carefully and having a good understanding of the German language are essential requirements.
• Absolute Neutrality:
  • No political statements whatsoever
  • No influence on or advice to voters
  • Neutral attire—affiliation with or membership in a political party must not be apparent
• Monitoring Compliance with Electoral Secrecy

• No photos, videos, or selfies!! – Members of the press must register with the Election Office in advance!

We regularly offer training sessions for election workers prior to election dates, tailored to the specific requirements of in-person voting and absentee voting. Dates will be announced in a timely manner.

Participation in training sessions is especially recommended if you wish to serve as a poll manager or secretary, or if you are switching between in-person and mail-in voting.

The provided materials can also be used to prepare for Election Day. Links to training videos and downloadable instructions will be available in a timely manner.

Fill out the form and send it to wahlhilfe@mail.aachen.de

As soon as the planning for the relevant election is complete, you will receive a notice of appointment with specific details regarding the location and time of your assignment.

Both forms can be filled out online. You do not need a printer to do this. You also do not need any special software on your computer or smartphone.

You may need to save the forms temporarily in order to fill them out.

Feel free to take a photo of the completed form or scan it and send it to us as an email attachment.

Of course, you can also submit the form in person at the election office, drop it in the election office’s mailbox, or send it by mail. In the latter case, please be sure to affix the appropriate postage to the envelope.

Yes, of course. You can also register in person at any time during the election office’s hours of operation. If you’re unsure whether someone will be there, please feel free to call us in advance at 0241 – 432 1600.

Assign team members based on organizational needs and work locations.

Yes, kinship is not a ground for exclusion.

No, you're usually assigned to shifts; but everyone must be present for the head count!

Yes, the right to vote can be exercised in any case.

Please note: If you are at “your own” polling place, you can do this during your shift, or before or after it. Otherwise, you have the option of going to “your” polling place during a break or voting in advance by mail. If you are assigned to a mail-in voting location, you have the option in the morning to go to a polling place or to apply for a mail-in ballot yourself in advance.

Yes, your assignment location may vary depending on your needs. If a change to your assignment location is necessary, we will contact you in advance.

Please notify the Elections Team as soon as possible so that a replacement can be arranged.

Depending on the role served on the election committee, the City of Aachen pays an allowance that exceeds the amount required by law.

Currently, you can get:

After an election, we first review the election records. All election workers who were on duty on Election Day and who signed both the attendance list and the election record will receive their respective stipend via bank transfer. This usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks.

Since the allowance cannot be paid in cash, we require your bank account information. It does not have to be your own account. For example, you can also provide us with a relative’s account information; in that case, please also include the name of the account holder.

Once your service is complete, you can receive a certificate confirming your volunteer work as an election worker. Please contact wahlhilfe@mail.aachen.de for more information.

No, unfortunately not. To receive a volunteer ID card from the City of Aachen, you must have a long-term, sustained commitment to serving on the board of an organization, as a volunteer coach, or as a volunteer in emergency services (e.g., the volunteer fire department or Malteser). Unfortunately, serving as an election worker is not sufficient, since this only involves working on individual days.