Election Judge Information

An individual who has been selected to serve as election judge must:

• Complete two hours of online training.
• Wear identification (first name only) on the day of the election (name tags provided)
• Take direction from the Head and Co-Head Judge.
•  Administer election procedures according to training, referencing duty specific folders.
• Open and/or close the polls.
• Check-in registered voters.
• Register new voters.
• Be responsible for election materials and documents.
• Distribute ballots.
• Help voters who require assistance.
• Set up and take down election equipment.
• Compile the summary statements of the election results.
• Certify the precinct election results.

• You must be eligible to vote in Minnesota.
• You must be at least 18 years old on Election Day.
  • Anyone who is 16-17 years old may serve as a Trainee Election Judge.
• You must be able to read, write, and speak English.

Restrictions

• Candidates for office cannot be an election judge in a precinct where they appear on the ballot. This includes those who are actively campaigning as a write-in candidate. 
• A person who is a relative of a candidate for office cannot serve in a precinct where that candidate is on the ballot. Relatives include a spouse, parent, child, stepchild, brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister. 
• A person who temporarily or permanently lives in the same house as a candidate cannot serve in a precinct where that candidate is on the ballot. 
• Election judges who are relatives to each other cannot serve together in the same precinct during the same shift. Relatives include a spouse, parent, child, stepchild, brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister. Relatives can work separate, non-overlapping shifts in the same precinct. 
• A challenger appointed to contest voter eligibility cannot serve as an election judge. 

Related statutes or rules: M.S. 204B.19; 204C.07, subd. 4.

A person  interested in serving as an election judge is expected to:

• Provide excellent customer service and accurate information.
• Communicate clearly with voters.
• Maintain neutrality and impartiality in the polling place.
• Enjoy assisting and serving diverse populations.
• Be flexible to mentally and physically perform each task in the polling location.
• Be able to sit or stand for long periods of time.
• Handle stressful situations calmly and professionally.
• Demonstrate accurate record keeping skills and reconcile data.
• Read, write, and speak in the English language.
• Work respectfully with other election judges.

Election judges will serve at different times throughout the year, including:

• Primary Election Day (the second Tuesday in August).
• General Election Day (the first Tuesday in November).
• Any special elections.

Election judges may serve all day or a partial day. 

• From 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., plus closing duties and the election process is completed.
• Or, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Or, 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., plus closing duties and the election process is completed.

All election judges must complete a two-hour training every two years. All Head and Co-Head Judges must complete additional training hours. All judges must train before each state election (even year elections).

At the polling place, there will be election judges serving in specific roles. 

• Head Judge.
  • Manages the polling place, assigns judges to specific tasks, resolves issues, completes forms, and returns materials on Election Night. 
• Co-Head Judge.
  • Assists the Head Judge in managing the polling place. 
• Election Judges.
  • Assist with general polling place duties as assigned by the Head Judge, including setup and closing. Judges may be assigned the following roles: 
    • A Greeter Judge greets voters, reviews greeter's list to determine if they are registered, verifies non-registered voters are in correct precinct, directs voters to Poll Pad table. 
    • A Poll Pad Judge signs in registered and non-registered voters and issues Voter Receipts. 
    • A Ballot & Demonstration Judge manages ballot inventory and hands out ballots to voters. 
    • An Equipment Judge monitors DS200 and OmniBallot to address errors and ensures the equipment is operational. 

All election judges, regardless of roles and assigned roles, are not allowed to:

• Work in the same precinct at the same time with a spouse or family member, or if you are a candidate or relative of a candidate who appears on the ballot for this election. 
• Discuss candidate(s), question(s), or voter(s). 

Time Off From Work

204B.195 Time off from work to serve as election judge. 

An individual who is selected to serve as an election judge pursuant to section 204B.21, subdivision 2 may, after giving an employer at least 20 days' written notice, be absent from a place of work for the purpose of serving as an election judge without penalty. An employer may reduce the salary or wages of an employee serving as an election judge by the amount paid to the election judge by the appointing authority during the time the employee was absent from the place of employment. 

The written request to be absent from work must be accompanied by a certification from the appointing authority. The written request must state the hourly compensation to be paid to the employee for service as an election judge and the hours during which the employee will serve. An employer may restrict the number of persons to be absent from work for the purpose of serving as an election judge to no more than 20 percent of the total work force at any single worksite.