The 62-year-old Tooan farmer and grandmother of seven has worked on five council and five state elections in the region, initially as an office assistant before graduating for official roles at both levels of government.

It began at the 2002 state election, when the election manager for Lowan recognised her computer skills.

"I hadn't worked in an office job since 1978 when I had my first child. I had been out of employment doing to books and running the business on the farm, so he convinced me to come and be an office assistant," she said.

"It's hard to get people to work full time for six-to-eight weeks, which is what the job demands."

Mrs Toet worked at another state election and two council elections in Horsham and West Wimmera before the West Wimmera returning officer convinced her to become an election official in 2008.

Eight years later, Mrs Toet was set to work as deputy returning officer at West Wimmera Shire's council elections, but was promoted to returning officer after the person initially in that role had to leave to care for a sick child.

"I was thrown in at the eleventh hour to run that election and it was very challenging," she said.

"You run candidate information sessions for anyone interested in running, you take nominations and statements that go onto the ballot papers with their information, conduct the ballot draw," she said.

"Council elections are postal elections, so when the ballots come back in envelopes you scan the barcodes on them and then after the close of the election you do the count. It's a full-time job for approximately three months."

Mrs Toet said the work had left her with a greater appreciation of how democracy functioned in Australia.

"Before I did this job I would just go to a polling a place and cast your vote. I never thought about how mind-boggling it is what's got to be done," she said.

"At state elections, the Lowan district has 60 polling places that need to be staffed and with voting material, you really don't think about it until you've got to do it."

Mrs Toet's comments come as the Victorian Electoral Commission is recruiting up to 100 would be leaders from all walks of life to train as election managers, assistant election managers, returning officers, and deputy returning officers during major election events.

They are especially seeking workers in north western Victorian shires, including Yarriambiack, ahead of council elections in October 2020.

A VEC spokeswoman said applications were open until June 30 at https://jobs.careers.vic.gov.au/jobs/VG-SEO2019.

Mrs Toet, who most recently worked as Lowan deputy returning officer at the 2018 state election, said she would happily take on another role with the VEC if asked. She said attention to detail, problem solving and being organised were key skills for people who wanted to do the job.

"We have a lot of people who are ex-schoolteachers who take on these jobs," she said.

"You've got to be good at giving direction, be a good leader and enjoy working as a team. That's what I love about it: you become a team and help each other all the way through, and if you need help you know there will be someone on your team or who you can call at the VEC."

Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately AM said like Mrs Toet, many senior election officials stuck with the job for decades. He said no previous election experience was necessary

"If you're a business owner, retired or semi-retired, a parent, an artist or a coach we want to hear from you," Mr Gately said.

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