Working at an election

Help us to deliver democracy!

During an election there are multiple casual roles available and each position has its own set of tasks, competencies and attributes.

All temporary election staff are paid and receive training and support.

Eligibility

To work at a state or local government election you must:

• be on the electoral roll (you can check your enrolment at the Australian Electoral Commission website)
• be at least 16 years of age (if you are a 16- or 17-year old, you must be provisionally enrolled on the electoral roll)
• have a unique email address (i.e. two people cannot apply using the same email address)
• adhere to the ECQ’s Political Neutrality PDF (0.17 MB) and Conflict of Interest PDF (0.21 MB) policies
• adhere to the ECQ’s Terms and Conditions of Employment PDF (0.11 MB)
• adhere to the ECQ’s Electoral Official and Professional Standards of Conduct PDF (0.15 MB), and
• successfully complete mandatory training prior to commencement.

Positions available

The ECQ employs thousands of temporary election staff to work before, on or after election day. To register your interest to work at an election, you will need to submit an expression of interest for the specific election event.

Read about the expression of interest process PDF (0.2 MB).

Find out more about the duties of different roles and pay rates:

• Position descriptions PDF (0.14 MB)
• Pay rates PDF (0.1 MB)

Workforce Diversity

The ECQ embraces diversity and inclusion and is committed to creating a workplace that reflects the population of Queensland. Election staff who have previously worked for the ECQ are encouraged to apply.

The ECQ encourages applications from people who:

• have no prior experience working at an election
• are proficient in English but also speak another language
• are living with a disability, or
• are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent.

Training

All positions require home study, which involves reviewing materials available online and completing the ECQ’s online training program.

Staff working on election day must complete their training at least one week prior to election day. All other staff must complete their training before commencing work. Failure to do so may result in your offer of employment being withdrawn.

How to apply

When applying to work at an election, you will need to have the following information ready:

• details of previous election work (if applicable)
• positions and council area/state electorates you wish to work in
• an example of your experience/capability in:
  • providing customer service and working in a team environment
  • calculating figures accurately
  • working to deadlines
  • working as part of a team, including experience:
    • managing or supervising staff (if applying for a supervisor role)
    • working under pressure
    • demonstrating attention to detail, and
    • working independently with minimum supervision.

Frequently asked questions

• Please see frequently asked questions PDF (0.15 MB) for more information about working at an election.