Resources
Training
City of Madison Election Officials are required to attend training or watch a training webinar before every election that they work. View upcoming training options. Review the Election Day Quick Guides.
There is no need to RSVP for training sessions.
COVID-19 Vaccine Status Attestation
City of Madison election officials need to provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, or obtain a medical or religious exemption in advance of working the polls.
All election officials - whether vaccinated or unvaccinated - must complete the COVID-19 Vaccine Status Attestation Form. The completed form can be delivered to the Clerk's Office by email to
madisonvotes@cityofmadison.com or in-person during operating hours (Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm). You can also return your vaccine status attestation form at certain Madison Public Library branches through Tuesday, March 15. You can find the list of locations and times available on our event calendar.
City of Madison Election Official COVID-19 Vaccine Status Attestation Form
City of Madison Election Official COVID-19 Vaccine Status Attestation Form FILLABLE PDF
City of Madison Election Official COVID-19 Vaccine Status Attestation Form WORD
Election officials who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 must also show proof of vaccination by presenting either:
- Image of their completed CDC COVID-19 vaccination card, or
- Proof of vaccination through their personal Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR).
Vaccines are available through Public Health Madison Dane County at the Alliant Energy Center and their South Madison & East Washington Avenue offices. More information on vaccines is available on Public Health’s website. You can also book an appointment through that webpage.
To provide proof of a negative test:
On election morning, officials who have turned in a vaccine status attestation form saying they are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be required to provide their Chief Inspector with proof of a recent (within three days of the election) negative COVID-19 PCR test result. Per the City policy, a rapid test result will not be accepted.
In order to allow as many election officials as possible to work within six feet of each other, each polling location will have no more than one official needing to show proof of a negative test scheduled per shift on Election Day.
Testing is available through Public Health Madison Dane County at their South Madison & East Washington Avenue offices. More information on testing is available on Public Health’s website. You can also book an appointment through that webpage.
Medical or religious accommodations:
Election Officials with a medical condition or other medical restrictions whose treating medical provider indicates vaccination is not medically recommended at this time, or those Election Officials with a sincerely held religious belief that prohibits them from receiving a vaccine, are accommodated by being allowed to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. The City will review any medical or religious accommodation request from the testing requirement on a case-by-case basis and engage in an interactive process with Election Officials who submit such requests. Accommodation request forms can be found at https://www.cityofmadison.com/mayor/apm underneath APM 2-53 (COVID-19 Vaccination/Testing Policy). Accommodation requests should be sent to hr@cityofmadison.com at least three weeks before the first election you work in 2022.
Reference Materials
Beginner Training Handout
Face Coverings While Voting and Conducting Elections - COVID 19 (WI Elections Commission)
Election Day Emergency Procedures
Democracy in the Park training
Letter from City Attorney
Podcast Series
Madison Votes podcast series on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts
Election Observers
The City Attorney and City Clerk recently held a virtual meeting for anyone who might be observing at the polls on Election Day. The handout from that meeting is available here.
Quick Guides
- Poll Worker Reference Guide
- Checking ID
- Election Day Registrations
- Election Day Registrations - Second Official
- Ineligible Voter List
- Processing Absentee Ballots
- Provisional Ballots
- Returning Provisional Voter
- Remaking Ballots
- Remaking Ballots for a Partisan Primary (for August of even-numbered years)
Absentee Tracking Tools
City of Madison Election Official Guide
- Poll Workers
- Opening the Polls
- Voting Hours - please note that 28 days is now required to establish residency for voting, and that students using their college ID as voter ID only need to show proof of current enrollment if the ID is expired
- Closing the Polls
Other Materials
- Voter Slip Checkoff - use this tool at the ballot table as voters deposit their voter slips in the voter slip receptacle, minimizing the number of people touching each voter slip
- Polling Place Tabletop Exercise - please note that 28 days is now required to establish residency for voting, and that students using their college ID as voter ID only need to show proof of current enrollment if the ID is expired
- Counting Votes Manual (Spring Primary, Spring Election, & General Election), WI Elections Commission
- Counting Votes Manual (Partisan Primary), WI Elections Commission
- Respecting Cultural Differences at the Polls
- Equity & Engagement at the Polls
Videos
NEW! Polling Place Procedures Videos
These short videos show you how to set up polling place equipment and how some of the stations work on Election Day. Along with the Quick Guides above, these videos are an excellent resource for new election officials or for more experienced election officials who want a quick refresher. All of these videos have closed-captioning available. When you start a video, click the "CC" near the bottom right corner of the video to view the captions.
Topics covered include but are not limited to:
- Voting Booth Setup
- ExpressVote Setup and Disassembly
- Opening the Tabulator
- Closing the Tabulator
- Clearing a Ballot Jam
- Greeter Table
- Registration Table
- Poll Book Table
All of the short training videos are available on the City's Election Official Training channel.
The videos below were offered as training for previous elections. The webinar for the current election can be found on the training website.
Training Videos for New Poll Workers
- Prohibited Harassment and Discrimination at the Polls
- Training for New Poll Workers - please note that 28 days is now required to establish residency for voting, and that students using their college ID as voter ID only need to show proof of current enrollment if the ID is expired
- Equity & Engagement at the Polls
Video Resources for Experienced Poll Workers
- Equity & Engagement at the Polls
- Election Day Voter Registration - please note that 28 days is now required to establish residency for voting
- Processing Absentees
- Observers at the Polls
- Election Official Ethical Considerations
- Balanced and Secure Elections
- New Chief Inspectors: Beyond the Baseline
Videos from the Dane County Clerk's Office
Wisconsin Elections Commission Manual
The Wisconsin Elections Commission has compiled an Election Day Manual for Election Officials.
Accessibility
Video: This Is Where We Vote - 2014