The Importance of Thoroughly Screening Election Poll Workers

Building Trust Through Background Screening 

Thorough background checks and social media screening are vital components of the vetting process, helping to identify any red flags in a candidate’s history, such as criminal records or a history of unethical behavior.  

This is particularly important for poll workers, who are responsible for administering elections and ensuring that they are conducted fairly and accurately. Recently, a temporary election worker who was assigned to the ballot tabulation center was arrested for stealing keys and a security fob that can be used to gain access to the county’s ballot tabulation machines. The county conducted a background check on him before hiring him, but no convictions were found despite having been previously charged with theft in July 2023. 

Adequate background checks designed for government workers can help build public trust in the electoral system and prevent any legal or ethical issues that may arise from individuals with malicious intent or those who may be susceptible to coercion from influencing the election process. 

The benefits of screening poll workers include: 

• Security and Integrity of Elections: Polls handle sensitive information like voter lists and ballots. Background checks can help prevent individuals with a history of fraud or theft from tampering with the process. 

• Voter Confidence: Voters are more likely to trust the electoral process if they know poll workers have been screened. This can increase voter turnout and participation. 

• Public Safety: Background checks can help identify individuals who may pose a threat to the safety of voters or fellow poll workers. This is especially important in situations where polling locations are in schools or other sensitive areas. 

• Voter Intimidation: Voters should feel safe and welcome at polling locations. Background checks can help reduce the risk of intimidation tactics by ensuring poll workers have no history of violence or disorderly conduct. 

• Deterrence: The very existence of background checks can deter individuals with malicious intent from applying to be poll workers. 

Selecting the Right Screening Company: What to Look For 

Selecting a background screening company is a crucial decision as there are many factors to consider, including: 

• • The level of expertise. 
  • A proven track record with following local, state, and federal CRA (Consumer Reporting Agency) laws and regulations. 
  • An organization that has appropriate information security protocols in place to protect the sensitive information they collect and process. 

Other questions to ask when considering your screening partner include: 

• • Are they accredited by the Professional Background Screeners Association? 

• • Do they have experience working with government agencies? 

• • Do they help with collection of required local, state, and federal candidate forms? 

• • Are they able to validate identity, date of birth, and Social Security Number? 

• • Do they have any cooperative agreements that you can leverage? 

• • Do they offer any integrations with my Applicant Tracking System/Human Capital Management solution?  

• • How quickly can they return results? 

What kind of checks should you consider? At a minimum, you’ll want to start with:  

• • Identity Verification – protecting people and the voting process from potential identity fraud and inaccuracies starts with verifying identity. 

• • Social Security Trace and Address History 

• • County and Federal criminal searches for all residences in the past seven years 

• • DOJ Sex Offender Search 

• • A thorough Database Search for terrorists and excluded parties 

In addition, consider including a Social Media Search and Professional References.  

Partnering with the right background screening company to screen poll workers can help ensure voter safety and the integrity of the vote. Learn more about Sterling’s background check solutions for government building a foundation of trust and safety.

About Sterling and OMNIA Partners

Sterling is a leading global provider of background and identity services, offering background and identity verification services to help over 50,000 clients create people-first cultures built on a foundation of trust and safety. Through OMNIA Partners, agencies have access to Sterling's robust suite of hiring services on a competitively solicited, publicly awarded cooperative contract, giving participating agencies the option to circumvent the RFP process. Find out how Sterling and OMNIA Partners can help improve your hiring processes and your bottom line here.

Article written by: Steve Waldvogel, Enterprise Sales Executive, Government and Education at Sterling

Sterling is not a law firm. This publication is for informational purposes only and nothing contained in it should be construed as legal advice. We expressly disclaim any warranty or responsibility for damages arising out this information. We encourage you to consult with legal counsel regarding your specific needs. We do not undertake any duty to update previously posted materials.