Impartiality
The major qualification for employment as a voting operations staff member is the ability to act in an impartial manner. Persons who do not formally agree to adhere to the code of conduct (see Voting Operations Staff Codes of Conduct), or other statements declaring that they will act in an impartial manner in carrying out their duties, would not be suitable for appointment.
Political Activism
Where the focus is on appointing non-partisan voting operations staff, there may be an exclusion of potential staff on the grounds of political activism. In some jurisdictions this would exclude not only those who are members of political organisations with an interest in the election outcome, but also those who are perceived as being an active public participant in political or electoral affairs. This could include persons listed as nominators on nomination documents or as supporters on petitions or other documents for party registration. Under such systems, checks in this regard will need to be made of all potential appointees.
Voter Registration
It is also common that to be considered for voting station staff employment, applicants must be registered voters in the locality in which they are seeking employment. This has advantages in promoting local representation in voting station staff and requiring some displayed interest in the electoral process as a prerequisite for employment.
Nepotism
In some jurisdictions there may also be a ban on more than one member of the same direct family, or any relatives, from being appointed as officials in the same voting station or electoral district, or being employed as temporary voting operations staff in the same administrative area. While an efficient deterrent to nepotistic corruption of employment, such bans may disbar effective and well-qualified potential staff. Requirements for transparent approval of staff appointments, as described in Transparency in Recruitment, rather than inflexible disqualification of family members or associates from employment, would seem the more effective course.
