UConn Social Work Trains Future Election Workers

As elections grow more technologically complex and the nation's election workforce grows older, a new program spearheaded by the UConn School of Social Work's Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work(opens in new tab) is giving students an opportunity to learn how elections are administered - and to play a direct role in the process.

Nearly 60% of poll workers in the 2024 general election were age 61 or older (opens in new tab), according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. And only 4.5% were between the ages of 18 and 25. The EAC also reported that 47.9% of jurisdictions faced significant challenges recruiting and retaining poll workers in 2024.

"It's important to get younger people interested and involved in the political process, and becoming a poll worker embeds them in elections in their own communities," says Shannon Lane, director of the Humphreys Institute and professor-in-residence.

It's important to get younger people interested and involved in the political process, and becoming a poll worker embeds them in elections in their own communities. - Shannon Lane, director of the Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work and professor-in-residence

The UConn Hartford NextGen Elections Program, funded through a grant from Campus Compact(opens in new tab), will prepare up to 10 UConn students, including social work students, to serve as poll workers and election moderators during Connecticut's 2026 elections.

Students will complete approximately 10 hours of training through a combination of asynchronous and in-person sessions, including official training in collaboration with the Connecticut Secretary of the State(opens in new tab). Participants will become certified Election Moderators for the State of Connecticut.

Following training, students will be connected with local election officials and assigned to polling locations, where they will work for at least two days during the 2026 election period. Connecticut's 2026 general election early voting period is Oct. 19 through Nov. 1, with Election Day on Nov. 3.

"The program is a win-win," Lane says. "It provides students with hands-on experience in election administration while helping Connecticut communities recruit and train the next generation of election workers."

For the Humphreys Institute, the program is an extension of its broader mission of connecting social workers and students with opportunities for civic engagement. Through training and hands-on experience at polling locations, students will have the opportunity to connect what they have learned about elections with the day-to-day realities of administering them.

Students will learn about the many people and processes required to conduct an election, from preparing a polling place and assisting voters to following procedures for ballots and voting equipment.

"Being a poll worker is a very tangible form of civic engagement," Lane says. "You are directly helping your community conduct an election."

The program also will expose students to potential careers in election administration and build relationships between students and local election offices. Organizers hope the 2026 program will serve as a first step toward a broader UConn initiative connecting students with election administration opportunities throughout Connecticut.

Participants will receive a $125 program stipend, up to $100 for transportation, food at in-person program events, and compensation for their election work at the rate established by their assigned election office.

Students must be at least 18 years old, registered to vote in Connecticut, and meet Connecticut's poll-worker eligibility requirements. They must also be available for program events on Oct. 3 and Nov. 7 and for at least two days of election work during early voting and/or Election Day.

Applications open Sept. 15 and are due by Sept. 21. Apply now!(opens in new tab)

Questions about the program can be directed to [email protected].