Working at an election
Try a job with us on for size!
During an election the ECQ recruits Queenslanders from all walks of life for multiple casual temporary election positions.
Each position has its own set of tasks, competencies and attributes and all staff are paid for their work and receive training and support.
We’re recruiting now for the 2024 local government elections on 16 March. There are 10,000 casual roles available for work before, on and after election day.
Read on to find out if a job with us could be a great fit for you.
Check your eligibility
To work with us at a state or local government election you must:
- be on the electoral roll (check your enrolment at aec.gov.au website)
- be at least 16 years of age (if you are 16 or 17, you must be provisionally enrolled to vote)
- have a unique email address (this means two people cannot apply using the same email address)
- successfully complete mandatory training prior to your commencement.
You’ll also need to adhere to the ECQ’s:
- Political neutrality PDF (0.19 MB) and Conflict of interest PDF (0.22 MB) policies
- Terms and conditions of employment PDF (0.66 MB)
- Electoral official and professional standards of conduct PDF (0.15 MB).
COVID-19 vaccination
The ECQ does not mandate our staff to be COVID-19 vaccinated.
All staff are encouraged to be up-to-date with their vaccinations and we will ask you to voluntarily provide your COVID-19 vaccination status to us. This is to help us to accurately understand our workforce’s vaccination rates.
You may also be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon entry into specific communities and venues like declared institutions such as aged care facilities. These venues may hold the right to refuse entry or remove people who do not comply with their condition of entry requirements.
The Returning Officer may contact you to confirm your vaccination status when recruiting staff to work in these types of specific venues.
Available positions
There are five different types of positions you can apply for:
Position | Overview | Work period |
|---|---|---|
Election Assistant | Assists the Returning Officer with day-to-day election tasks within the Returning Officer’s office. | Before, on and after election day. |
Supervisor | Manages the polling place on election day or during the early voting period. | Before and on election day |
Senior Issuing Officer | Assists the Supervisor to manage the polling place. | Before and on election day |
Issuing Officer* | Issues votes to electors and counts votes. | Before and on election day |
Count Assistant* | Assists with packing up the polling place and counting votes. | On election day – after 5:30pm |
*Operationally identified to be easily adjustable. Refer to the reasonable adjustment section in the FAQs for more information.
Duties and pay rates
Workforce diversity
The ECQ is committed to creating a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. Diversity and inclusion is important to us and we strive to create a workplace where everyone feels safe, respected and included.
This is a vision for all, but especially for people in our community who may be under-represented in the workforce and seek more equitable opportunities. These groups include, but are not limited to:
- women
- people with disability
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- culturally and linguistically diverse people
- the LGBTIQ+ community
- young people
- older people
- people with no prior experience of working at an election .
Training
All staff must complete their mandatory training before they commence work with us.
For staff working on election day – this must be completed one week prior to election day.
Failure to complete training may result in your offer of employment being withdrawn.
The ECQ’s training program and other information and materials are available online.
How to apply
You’ll need to submit an expression of interest to work for us.
Visit the expression of interest page for more information or read about the expression of interest process PDF (0.23 MB).