Student Election Clerk Information

What are Student Election Clerks?

High school students have the opportunity to participate in the electoral process by serving as election clerks at polling locations on Election Day. Students who are 16 years or older, enrolled in a public or private high school, or home-schooled, with the consent of the principal or parent/legal guardian in charge of home-school education, may serve as an election clerk.

The Student Election Clerk program is here to help students gain a deeper understanding of how our electoral process works and what it means to be an informed and responsible voter. The Travis County Clerk’s Office is committed to the belief that when people engage in their civic duties, they empower themselves to make thoughtful choices that will impact their lives and their communities for years to come.

What are the benefits of serving as a Student Election Clerk?

Students are paid $20 an hour for their work
Experience as a Student Election Clerk is an impressive addition to a resumé or college application
Students will experience first-hand learning about the democratic process
Students will gain practical experience by serving their community and the State of Texas

What are the Required Qualifications of a Student Election Clerk?

To qualify as a Student Election Clerk, the student must:

Be 16 years of age on Election Day
Be a U.S. citizen
Be enrolled in a public or private high school or home school
Have consent of the principal, or consent of the legal guardian in charge of the home-school
Have consent of the student’s legal guardian

What are the responsibilities of a Student Election Clerk?

Working under the supervision of the election judge, Student Election Clerks may assist with the following duties:

Setting up and organizing polling location before the polls open
Checking in and processing voters
Distributing ballots to registered voters
Providing instructions and assistance to voters
Answering voters’ questions
Explaining the use of voting equipment
Closing polling location and ensuring all equipment is packed up

Can a Student Election Clerk serve as an interpreter?

Yes. When election workers are communicating with a voter who cannot communicate in English, a Student Election Clerk may communicate with the voter in a language the voter and the clerk understand.

How will the election officials inform the school that the student worked on Election Day?

Serving as a Student Election Clerk is now included in the Texas Education Code’s definition of “excused absence.” Student Election Clerks are entitled to compensation in the same manner as other election clerks. The election official should give each student worker documentation in the form of a time sheet, pay stub, or other letter or form showing that the student served as an election clerk and the hours worked. However, it is up to the student to ensure the school is given the proper documentation in order to have an excused absence.

How does a student apply to become a Student Election Clerk?

Fill out the Student Election Clerk Application and Permission Form.
Have your parent or legal guardian and school principal or legal guardian in charge of the school sign the application and permission form.
We politely request you submit your Student Election Clerk Application and Permission Form by Monday, October 21. However, there is no statutory deadline.
Please submit your Student Election Clerk Application and Permission Form to [email protected].
If selected, complete a self-paced training before Election Day.

For more information, please contact the Travis County Elections Department at