Student Poll Worker Grant

Meeting the Need: Partnering with Local Clerks in Michigan's New Election Reality

Oakland University’s (OU) Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) has received a nearly $100,000 grant from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s Help America Vote College Poll-Worker Program to help recruit and train students to be poll workers.

The CCE will partner with three local communities – Pontiac, Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills – for this project. These three adjacent and nearby communities present great needs during the 2024 election cycle given the differences in their communities and the new reality of Election Day in Michigan. Beginning in 2024, all municipalities will be required to have nine days of early voting. Local clerks will be stretched for resources. OU students, recruited through this program, will help fill this need.

This is a perfect community engagement project for OU. This is an opportunity for OU students to help meet a community need, but also gain great experience as a critical part of our electoral process. Plus, students can make a few extra dollars by doing the work.

Students who work the polls can earn up to $1500 (for both the August and November elections).

Interested students should fill out the Google form.