National Election Worker Survey
Elections in the United States depend on thousands of poll workers, yet we know relatively little about their experiences. Understanding their perspectives is essential to the study of American elections and can help improve election administration, strengthen voter confidence, and inform policy and training.
The National Election Worker Survey (NEWS) is a national research initiative focused on the experiences, responsibilities, and perspectives of poll workers. Led by experienced election scholars, the project brings together a cross-institutional team of more than 30 researchers from universities across the country, working in partnership with local election officials to survey election workers nationwide. Curious about what we’ve found so far? Explore our Research & Reports.
What do you want to know about poll workers?
Submit your ideas on the questions and topics we should ask poll workers! The current survey is under development to begin data collection in November 2026. You can view prior survey questions here. Submit your poll worker question!Partner with us!
Understanding the experiences and perspectives of poll workers can provide valuable insights for election officials and administrators. We also offer jurisdiction-specific analyses to help you better understand your poll workers. Participating in the study is simple — all you need to do is share the survey link with your poll workers. Learn more about participatingJoin the research team!
The current wave of this study is under development to begin data collection in November 2026. Please contact a member of the Steering Committee by September 1st to get involved.The National Election Worker Survey asks poll workers about their experiences to learn about their recruitment, training, responsibilities, and perceptions of election processes. The survey has evolved over time to address emerging issues facing election workers, such as safety concerns and future willingness to serve. The questionnaire for the November 2026 survey is under development.
View prior survey questionnaires
The National Election Worker Survey is led by a Steering Committee of experienced election scholars:
- Barry Burden, University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Joseph Coll, Texas Tech University
- Matt Lamb, Texas Tech University
- David Kimball, University of Missouri-St. Louis
- Anita Manion, University of Missouri-St. Louis
- With assistance from Jess Esplin, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Participating Jurisdictions
The National Election Worker Survey includes jurisdictions across the United States, with coverage varying by election year. Use the tabs below to explore participating jurisdictions in 2022, 2024, and (soon) 2026.
The 2022 survey was completed by over 5,500 respondents across 10 states and 19 jurisdictions, and included pre- and post-election survey waves:
- Fresno, CA
- Fairfield, CT
- Boston, MA
- Cambridge, MA
- Wellesley, MA
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Lansing, MI
- St. Louis City, MO
- St. Louis County, MO
- Cibola, NM
- Doña Ana, NM
- Los Alamos, NM
- Otero, NM
- Charleston, SC
- Harris, TX
- Lubbock, TX
- Charlottesville, VA
- Fairfax City, VA
- Milwaukee, WI
The 2024 survey was completed by over 2,200 election workers in 6 states and 8 jurisdictions:
- Fresno, CA
- Lansing, MI
- St. Louis County, MO
- Charleston, SC
- Lubbock, TX
- Charlottesville, VA
- Hanover, VA
- Virginia Beach, VA
Research & Reports
- The Americans on the front lines of elections (Burden & Stein 2024)
- Poll Worker Experience and Polling Place Operations (Hostetter & Atkeson 2026)
- Staffing Elections (Lamb, Burden, & Stein 2025)
- Path to the Polls: A Study of How Poll Workers Become Poll Workers (Lamb, Burden, & Stein 2025)
- Guardians at the Gates: Poll Worker Retention in a Challenging Election Environment (Stein, Burden, Lamb, Alberda, Atkeson, Bryant, Cobb, Gilbert, Hostetter, Kimball, Mayer, Panagopoulos, Reeves, Smidt, & Victor 2025)
- ¡Vote Aqui! The Experiences and Motivations of Poll Worker Translators (Lamb & Hostetter 2025)
- A Tale of Two Counties: A Study of Vote Centers in Fresno County and St. Louis County (Bryant, Manion, & Kimball 2024)
Meet the Research Team
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