House Democrats on Wednesday are introducing a proposal that would give tax relief to election poll workers.
Under the legislation, led by Reps. Joe Morelle and George Latimer, both New York Democrats, the stipend poll workers receive for working elections would no longer count as gross income for federal income tax purposes. The measure was obtained first by CNBC.
“Cutting taxes for poll workers recognizes their vital role in safeguarding American elections,” Morelle said in a statement. “The Poll Worker Tax Cut Act will ease financial burdens while encouraging participation, strengthening election integrity, and ensuring these civil servants are properly valued for their effort, dedication, and patriotism.”
Morelle, in his capacity as the top Democrat on the House committee with jurisdiction over federal elections, is leading efforts to counter President Donald Trump’s election priorities, which include reining in mail voting, and requiring voter identification at the ballot box and proof of citizenship to register in federal elections.
He’s also spoken out about the need to protect election workers in the wake of the 2020 election, which Trump has falsely claimed he won. The Bipartisan Policy Center found in 2025 that the rate of turnover among election workers has increased steadily since 2000 and picked up pace after 2020.
