Election Judges

What are election judges?

Election judges are the people responsible for administering election procedures in the voting place on Election Day.  Minnesota needs you to become a member of this proud team.

What are some of the duties of election judges?

• Open and close the polls (judges work from 6:00 a.m. to about 10:00 p.m.; in some places, half-day shifts are available)
• Be responsible for the security of all election materials
• Ensure that only qualified voters are permitted to vote and that each qualified voter is permitted to vote only once
• Distribute ballots
• Ensure that all votes are cast in secret
• Help voters who require assistance
• Maintain order in the voting place throughout the day
• Tally the results after the polls are closed
• Certify the precinct election results

Who is eligible?

Anyone eligible to vote who can read, write, and speak English can be an election judge. However, election judges cannot serve in the same precinct in which they are candidates in the election or be closely related to a candidate. Also, election judges cannot be closely related to another election judge in the same precinct. (“Closely related” means a spouse, parent, child, or sibling.)

No more than half of the election judges in a precinct can be members of the same major political party (except when serving at school elections). However, in all elections, including school elections, each election judge must declare a major political party affiliation. Note: election judges are not identified by party once on the job at the polling place. As required by law local election officials use party identification when assigning election judges to their posts to ensure checks and balances and election integrity.

Impartiality 

Election judges must remain impartial at all times while on duty. They must carefully avoid any action that may influence a voter. This includes asking, seeking to persuade, or inducing a voter to vote for or against a particular party, candidate or question.

Are election judges paid?

Yes. The City of Thief River Falls pays its election judges $12.00 per hour.

What about taking time off to serve? 

One can take time off from work to be an election judge. Before doing so, the employee must give the employer at least 20 days written notice. The City will provide a form that shows the hours election judges will work and the hourly pay rate. The employee should attach this form to the written notice submitted to the employer.

Employers can reduce the salary or wages of employees serving as election judges by the amount of compensation paid for being a judge during hours away from work. An employer can also restrict the number of persons serving to less than 20 percent from any single worksite.

Can college students serve as election judges?

Yes. College students make great election judges! Students at least 18 years of age can serve as election judges.

Can high school students serve as election judges?

High school students aged 16 or 17 can be trainee election judges. Call (1-877) 600-VOTE for a brochure on being a trainee election judge. Students at least 18 years of age can serve as regular election judges.

How are election judges selected? 

Local political party chairs must provide lists of potential judges to their county auditor. Appointments are made locally by the city council who must give preference to the parties’ lists of names. All appointments must be made at least 25 days before the election.

What happens after being appointed? 

After at least 2 hours of training (for which the election judges are paid), four or more judges will be assigned to each precinct. One of the judges will be appointed the head judge.

Election judges typically serve in the precinct where they live, but if shortages occur, they can serve anywhere in the state.

How to become an election judge:

Attend your precinct caucus and ask to be placed on the party list of volunteers to be election judges.

Or, contact your political party with your interest to be considered for an election judge position. Contact information for the three major political parties in Minnesota are as follows:

Democratic-Farmer-Labor  
(651) 293-1200 
255 E. Plato Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55107

Independent
(651) 487-9700
1821 University Ave. #105
St. Paul, MN 55104

Republican
(651) 222-0022
525 Park St., #250
St. Paul, MN 55103

Or, call the Pennington County Auditor/Treasurer at (218) 683-7000 or the City Administrator’s Office at (218) 681-2943.