Election workers wanted: That's how important they are for our democracy in Bayreuth!

Election workers wanted: That's how important they are for our democracy in Bayreuth!

In the bright halls of democracy, election workers strengthen the basis of our political system. On September 23, 2025, the city of Bayreuth will take stock and thank the volunteers who have tirelessly raised their voices for the orderly conduct of elections in recent years. Mayor Ebersberger emphasizes that the willingness to take on such tasks is declining, which poses challenges for the city. But the election workers are indispensable for the transparency and acceptance of the election results, emphasizes Ebersberger.

The last honoring of election workers took place on December 5, 2019, and since then there have been eight elections in Bayreuth - from the mayoral and city council elections in March 2020 to the most recent state and district elections in October 2023. Up to 630 election workers are required for each election, who work in 41 ballot box voting districts and 33 postal voting districts.

Honoring election workers

On Tuesday, the election workers who have made their contribution for at least ten missions were honored. Reinhold Glaser's award for 56 participations was particularly outstanding. 25 election workers were ultimately honored for their commitment for the first time. The celebration was musically accompanied by a harp duo from the municipal music school, which created an atmospheric atmosphere.

There are around 675,000 election workers in Germany who ensure that the elections run smoothly. In the run-up to the 2025 federal election, a particularly high voter turnout of around 82.5% is expected, the highest since reunification. Election workers make an important contribution here: they are the actors who actively help with both the preparation and implementation of the elections. Each polling station is managed by an electoral board, which consists of an election officer, deputies and several assessors.

How do I become a poll worker?

Anyone who would like to become a poll worker must be at least 18 years old, have German citizenship and have been resident in Germany for at least three months. Registration often takes place directly with the municipal administration and free training provides important knowledge of tasks and legal basics. On election day itself, election workers check voter credentials, issue ballot papers and monitor the voting processes. The work is rewarded with refreshment money, e.g. 25 euros per election day.

The dedicated election workers are not just a thing of the past - the challenges are looming: demographic change and advancing digitalization require new ideas and methods to attract young people to volunteer work. More than ever, appreciation and better framework conditions are necessary to meet the high demands of this key position.

At a time when citizens' voices are more in demand than ever, it becomes clear how important election workers are to our democracy. They promote citizen participation and make a decisive contribution to the credibility of the entire electoral process. Increasing voluntary work would not only ensure electoral success, but could also further strengthen the sense of social solidarity.

The next federal election will take place on February 23, 2025, and the population can already find out about the possibility of working as an election worker. A good step towards a vibrant and active democracy!