Title
Resolution to Approve New Election Personnel Pay Scales
Memorandum
The attached resolution proposes to raise the various rates of election inspectors and other election personnel pay to prepare for the 2026 election cycle. This increase represents an average increase of about $1.00 per hour. City Charter (Section 13.7) states that City Council must set election personnel pay rates and the last time it did so was 2024.
Elections have changed considerably since 2018 when Proposal 18-3 passed. At that time reforms like same-day voter registration and no-excuse absentee voting changed how the City’s election operations were managed, and a new temporary position was created called the Voter Participation Specialist. Proposal 2022-2 brought more changes, including the Permanent Ballot Mailing List and the implementation of 9 days of Early Voting. With Election Day becoming a multiple day event, retaining a consistent and well-trained work force of temporary employees and election inspectors has become more critical than ever. Many of our most experienced and loyal workers return year after year and now work most of the EV Days, as well as Election Day.
On Election Day, election inspectors must report for work at 6:00 a.m. and the typical day is about 16 hours long. Due to the challenges with recruitment and the additional cost of training, we generally do not offer split shifts. The chairperson assigned to each precinct must contend with voter registration problems, poll challengers, and provisional ballots, in addition to the regular processing of voters. In busy even-year elections, the stream of voters can be almost non-stop from the opening of the polls at 7:00 a.m. until the closing at 8:00 p.m.
The proposed increases in the election inspector pay rates take into consideration the additional knowledge and skills required to work both the early voting centers and the polling places on Election Day and allow the City to remain competitive in its recruitment efforts in Washtenaw County. The proposed rates also consolidate a number of election inspector positions to allow for a more simplified payroll and hiring process, and flexibility in worker assignments. It is expected that the increased compensation will save the City in recruitment and training costs in the even-year elections, due to retention of existing trained workers.
PROPOSED NEW ELECTION PERSONNEL PAY RATES
Election Inspector - $19.00/hour (increase from $18.00)
Floater bonus - $15.00/election (remains same)
Chairperson/Receiving Board - $23.00/hour (increase from $22.00)
Election Supervisor - $27.00/hour (increase from $25.00/hour)
Voter Participation Specialist - $23.00/hour (increase from $22.00/hour)
Lead Voter Participation Specialist - $26.00/hour (increase from $25.00/hour)
Precinct Coordinator - $25.00/hour (increase from $24.00/hour)
Lead Precinct Coordinator - $28.00/hour (increase from $27.00/hour)
The increase in election inspector pay will cost between $8,000 in a local election and $12,500 in a Presidential election. Currently, the State of Michigan provides a partial reimbursement for early vote wages. This reimbursement started as part of the early vote implementation in 2024 and was continued in 2025. It is expected that some partial reimbursement will continue for the 2026 elections. The FY2027 budget for the August 2026 Primary and November 2026 General Election also reflects a proposed increase in costs.
Staff in the City Clerk’s Office and City Administrator’s Office have reviewed this proposal and recommend approval. The Election Commission recommended approval of this resolution at their meeting on January 30, 2026.
Staff
Prepared by: Jacqueline Beaudry, City Clerk
Recommended by: City Election Commission
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, City Charter (Section 13.7) states that the pay rate of all election personnel, including election inspectors, is set by City Council;
Whereas, Ann Arbor last set its pay rates for election personnel in 2024;
Whereas, Election administration has changed substantially since the passage of Proposals 18-3 and 22-2, including the implementation of same-day voter registration, no-excuse absentee voting, a permanent ballot mailing list and nine days of early voting;
Whereas, Additional election inspectors and election staff are needed to manage the implementation of early voting and operation of the campus satellite voter registration offices;
Whereas, Additional days of voting, including at the satellite city clerk offices and the early voting centers, make staff and inspector retention even more vital to our success;
Whereas, Election personnel are free to work elections for any jurisdiction in the State of Michigan; and
Whereas, An increase in pay rates for election personnel in the City of Ann Arbor will allow the City to remain competitive in recruiting new workers and retaining existing qualified workers for the upcoming elections;
RESOLVED, That City Council set the following pay scale for the various election personnel in the City of Ann Arbor:
Election Inspector - $19.00/hour (increase from $18.00)
Floater bonus - $15.00/election (remains same)
Chairperson/Receiving Board - $23.00/hour (increase from $22.00)
Election Supervisor - $27.00/hour (increase from $25.00/hour)
Voter Participation Specialist - $23.00/hour (increase from $22.00/hour)
Lead Voter Participation Specialist - $26.00/hour (increase from $25.00/hour)
Precinct Coordinator - $25.00/hour (increase from $24.00/hour)
Lead Precinct Coordinator - $28.00/hour (increase from $27.00/hour)
RESOLVED, That the new election personnel pay rates be made effective July 1, 2026.
Sponsored by: City Election Commission