Election workers urgently needed for the 2026 local elections in Pentling!

Election workers urgently needed for the 2026 local elections in Pentling!

The next local elections in Germany will take place on March 8, 2026, with a possible runoff election on March 22, 2026. In this context, the municipality of Pentling is looking for committed citizens who would like to work as election workers. A total of around 90 poll workers are needed to carry out the election properly. Citizens eligible to vote are called upon to register for this voluntary commitment via the community's citizen service portal.

In order to work as an election worker, certain requirements must be met. The helpers must be at least 18 years old, a Union citizen and have lived in the Pentling municipality for at least two months. Another aspect is the expense allowance paid by the municipality. This is officially referred to as “refreshment money” and is intended to provide food for election workers.

Processes and compensation

The amount of the refreshment allowance varies depending on the municipality. For example, election workers in Bielefeld receive 80 euros per election day. If the election officer or secretary attends a training course, there is an additional 20 euros. For participation in several elections, such as the European elections or the Bundestag elections, a further bonus of 40 euros is paid in the form of a “thank you bonus”.

In Cologne, the compensation is between 60 and 80 euros, depending on the area of ​​responsibility on election day. Here the training participants receive 50 euros for their participation. In Dortmund, remuneration was also increased before the last federal election, with election officers and clerks now receiving 130 euros and assessors receiving 100 euros.

Volunteers and Commitments

Despite the ongoing need for election workers, municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia have not had any problems recruiting enough volunteers. Guido Mackowiak, head of the electoral office in Essen, emphasizes that they have never had to go out on the streets to find volunteers. In theory, municipalities also have the option of requiring citizens if there are not enough volunteers available, although this can only be rejected for important reasons.

The deployment of election workers not only provides important support for the conduct of the elections, but also a contribution to the democratic shaping of society. Those interested can find further information about the requirements and how to register as a poll worker on the municipalities' websites as well as on special information portals, such as the WDR and the Municipality Holzheim.