Election Worker - Office Assistant (Extra Help, Seasonal)

County of San Mateo; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

County of San Mateo Elections Division is seeking full-time, seasonal Election Worker – Office Assistant to support the November 3, 2026 Statewide General Election. This role offers exposure to the election process and a fast-paced team environment, with responsibilities across ballot retrieval, vote-by-mail processing, voter registration support, and voter heldesk tasks.

Candidates should be detail-oriented, able to lift up to 50 lbs, possess a CA driver’s license, and be proficient with

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of general clerical or office assistant experience.
• Strong prioritization and organizational skills.
• Ability to follow complex written procedures.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Data entry and database maintenance for voter records.
• Update voter registration and process provisional ballots.
• Support Vote Centers with check-ins and materials delivery.
• Assist with Vote by Mail processing and ballot handling.

Skills

Attention to detail

CA driver's license

MS Office (Word, Excel)

Data entry

Follow complex procedures

Job description

Description

PEOPLE FIRST – Conduct fair, accurate, secure, and transparent elections to increase public participation and confidence. The San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division is seeking full-time, seasonal Election Worker – Office Assistants to assist in the upcoming November 3, 2026, Statewide General Election. This is an excellent opportunity to be involved in the election process! The Elections Division is an exciting, fast-paced environment, especially as elections approach. This is an excellent opportunity to work with a group of dynamic, well-organized, and highly efficient individuals committed to the democratic process. More information about the organization is available on the Elections Division website www.smcacre.gov.

We Are Currently Seeking Dedicated, Enthusiastic And Hard-working Individuals For Temporary, Full-time Positions To Be Hired Into One Of The Following Areas:

BALLOT RETRIEVAL

Requirements

• Must have a valid CA driver’s license and be able to drive County vehicles (cargo van/SUV/car) to various San Mateo County locations accompanied by a partner throughout the day (and evenings as necessary)
• Must possess attention to detail
• Must be able to perform ballot retrievals according to detailed procedures
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs.

Duties May Include

• Retrieving voted ballots from Vote Centers and Ballot Drop Boxes throughout San Mateo County
• Delivering voted ballots to San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division
• Delivering supplies to Vote Centers
• Will also assist with Vote by Mail processing

VOTE BY MAIL

Requirements

• Must be able to lift 25 lbs.
• Must possess great attention to detail

Duties May Include

• Retrieving ballots from local post office
• Driving a County van
• Processing Vote by Mail ballots
• Performing repetitive work
• Operating ballot processing equipment
• Scanning and adjudicating ballots

VOTER REGISTRATION/CLERICAL SUPPORT

Requirements

• Must possess great attention to detail
• Must have working knowledge of computer software, including Microsoft Office Suite programs like Word and Excel
• Must be able to consistently follow complex written procedures

Duties May Include

• Data entry and database maintenance
• Updating voter registration records based on information from statewide voter registration database and other governmental agencies
• Preparing, verifying, and processing provisional ballots, including a review of challenged ballots
• Preparing, verifying, and processing petitions, including nominations, initiatives, and recall petitions and performing second-level petition verifications

VOTER HELPDESK SUPPORT

Requirements

• Must have working knowledge of computer software, including Microsoft Office Suite programs like Word and Excel
• Must possess great attention to detail
• Must be able to consistently follow complex written procedures

Duties May Include

• Assisting election staff at Vote Centers over the phone
• Answering questions about procedures
• Providing limited technical support based on pre-established procedures and guidelines
• Data entry

SUPPLIES

Requirements

• Must be able to lift 25 lbs.
• Must be able to follow detailed written procedures
• Must have basic working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Word and Excel

Duties May Include

• Inventorying and packing/unpacking Vote Center supplies
• Fulfilling inventory/supply lists for multiple Vote Centers
• Recording and updating inventory numbers regularly
• Operating pallet jacks and other devices to safely relocate supplies
• Accepting shipments and packages to the warehouse

FIELD TECHS/WAREHOUSE

Requirements

• Must have a valid CA driver’s license and be able to drive County or personal vehicles to Vote Centers to conduct daily check-ins and ensure voting equipment is functioning properly
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs

Duties May Include

• Testing and verifying functionality of electronic voting equipment prior to, during, and after voting periods
• Assisting in preparing and staging heavy equipment and supplies for delivery to Vote Centers
• Inventorying and organizing voting equipment and Vote Center supplies
• Assisting in delivery, connection, testing, and pickup of voting equipment at Vote Centers including delivery of spare equipment and supplies
• Providing on-site troubleshooting and technical support for voting equipment

Fluency in Spanish, Mandarin and/or Cantonese, Tagalog/Filipino, Korean, Burmese, Hindi, Japanese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, or Thai is desired in Outreach Services but not required.

The Election Worker – Office Assistant is classified as an Office Assistant I (Extra Help). The starting hourly wage for this position starts at $24.91. Overtime is expected for most positions.

This is an extra-help, at-will assignment, paid on an hourly basis. Extra-help hours are dependent on the business needs of the department and therefore work hours may vary from week to week. Extra-help employees shall not exceed 1,040 hours of work per fiscal year. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra-help employees are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the assignment.

Qualifications

Ideal Voter Registration/Clerical Support candidates will have a minimum of one year of general clerical, office assistant, phone services, or computer experience.

Critical skills for all Election Worker Office Assistant positions include the ability to prioritize work, coordinate several activities, organize and maintain accurate files and records, and understand and carry out oral and written directions.

Office hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Most positions require working overtime, including long hours, weekends, evenings, and holidays. Any authorized time worked more than 40 hours in the workweek shall be considered overtime and shall be compensable at the rate of one and one-half (1-1/2) times the overtime worked. The selected individuals must be available for the entire employment period until the completion of their assignment.

The last anticipated day of employment will be ten days after Election Day, which is November 13, 2026. Visit smcvote.gov or follow us on X @smcvote for updates on election schedules.

We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you’ll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.