SECTION 81.120. Compensation for Election-Day Workers

(a) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, the compensation paid to polling-place judges, clerks, early-voting-ballot board members, or persons working at the central counting station for the general-primary and primary-runoff elections shall be equal to the hourly rate paid by the county for such workers in county elections up to not exceed $12 per hour from the primary fund. All workers must attend a training class certified by the SOS. Online pollworker training classes are available on the SOS website.

(b) The county chair may pay technical support personnel at the central counting station (appointed under Texas Election Code §§127.002, 127.003, or 127.004) compensation which is more than $12 per hour, but costs may not exceed those paid to county staff for comparable work.

(c) Except as provided by this section, a judge or clerk may be paid only for the actual time spent on election duties performed in the polling place or central counting station, including up to two hours of work before the polls open. If an election worker elects to donate his or her compensation to the county party, signed documentation referencing that fact, by the election worker and chair, must be placed in the primary records.

(d) The county chair may allow one election worker from each polling place up to one hour before election day to annotate the precinct list of registered voters.

(e) The county chair is authorized to pay members of the early voting ballot board.

(1) Members of the early voting ballot board may only be compensated for the actual number of hours worked up to $12 per hour from the primary fund.

(2) Additionally, members may reconvene to process provisional or late ballots. The provisional ballot/late counting process must be completed not later than the 7th day after the primary or runoff primary elections.

(f) Compensation for the election judge or clerk who delivers and picks up the election supplies on election day may not exceed $25 per polling place location.

(g) Except as provided by subsection (f) of this section the county chair may not pay an election-day worker for travel time, delivery of supplies, or attendance at the precinct convention.

Source Note: The provisions of this §81.120 adopted to be effective December 13, 2009, 34 TexReg 8665; amended to be effective March 7, 2012, 37 TexReg 1483; amended to be effective January 9, 2014, 39 TexReg 209; amended to be effective December 29, 2019, 44 TexReg 7884; amended to be effective January 17, 2024, 49 TexReg 133