Election judges

Election judges play an important role in administering elections by ensuring the constitutional rights of voters are protected. Serving as an election judge is an opportunity to learn more about election processes and to provide a great service to the community.

Election judges qualifications and application

Application download link

• 2018 election judge application-general only
• 2018 polling places with map-legislative districts
• Personal data sheet
• Election pollbook

State required qualifications

To be an election judge you must meet all of the following state and city qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age (student trainee judges may be 16 - 17 years of age).
• Eligible to vote in Minnesota.
• Able to read, write, and speak English.
• You cannot be a spouse, parent, child, or sibling of any election judge serving in the same precinct at the same time.
• You cannot be a candidate or the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of a candidate on the ballot in that precinct.

City of Bloomington qualifications

• Comfortable using an IPad or Tablet
• Strong understanding of and commitment to nonpartisanship
• Communicate clearly with voters
• Enjoy assisting and serving diverse populations
• Be available to work long hours (up to 16 hours)
• Handle stressful situations calmly and professionally
• Demonstrate attention to detail
• Work as a team member and accept direction from a head judge
• Physically and mentally able to carry out the required duties
• Able to read small print
• Able to sit and/or stand for an extended period of time
• Able to lift 25 pounds

Desired qualifications

• Fluency in a second language.

Responsibilities and duties

• Attend training hosted by the City of Bloomington.
• Protect the rights of voters.
• Administer election procedures according to training.
• Maintain neutrality and impartiality in the polling place.
• Open and/or close the polls.
• Check-in registered voters.
• Responsible for election materials and documents.
• Distribute ballots.
• Register new voters.
• Help voters requiring assistance.
• Set up/take down election equipment.
• Compile the summary statements of the election results.
• Certify the precinct election results.

New election judges (18 years and older)

How to apply: If you are interested in becoming an election judge, please complete the following forms:

• 2018 election judge application-general only
• Personal data sheet
• Election pollbook

Fill in the forms, print out and sign by hand, and return to kengberg@BloomingtonMN.gov, or:

City of Bloomington
Attention: Elections
1800 W. Old Shakopee Road
Bloomington, MN 55431

Time off work to serve

If you are appointed to serve as an election judge, state law allows you to be absent from work without penalty if you have given your employer at least 20 days-notice. The written request must be accompanied by a certification letter from the City Clerk that details your hourly rate of pay and the hours you will serve. Your employer may reduce your salary or wages by the amount that you are paid as an election judge. Your employer may restrict the number of his/her employees to serve as election judges to no more than 20 percent of the work force at any single worksite.

Required training

The City of Bloomington provides training for all election judges prior to both the Primary and General Elections. Training is mandatory and will last approximately 2.5 hours.

Assignment letters

If you are selected to serve, an assignment letter will be mailed out before each election.

Student judges information

The City of Bloomington (City) offers a Student Election Judge Trainee Program for students who live in or near the City and who will be 16 years old by Election Day. It is provided in accordance with MN Stat. §204B.19 subd. 6.

Election judge trainees work in the polling places with election judges. Trainees may work a shift between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., although parents/guardians may prefer that students begin their shift only after school. Two student trainee judges will be assigned to each of Bloomington's 32 precincts.

Requirements

• High school student, age 16 or older (be enrolled in a high school or home-school in Hennepin County, Minnesota).
• Acceptable academic performance (must provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher or principal).
• U.S. citizen.
• Attend a 2.5-hour training class by the City Clerk's Office.
• Have the approval of their parent(s) and school.
• Be willing to serve in a patient, honest, and impartial manner.
• Cannot be related to another judge in the same precinct.
• Cannot be a son, stepson, daughter, stepdaughter of a candidate of the election.
• Able to read, write, and speak English.

Duties

(Working under the supervision of the polling place election judges)

• Determine whether a voter is in the correct precinct.
• Distribute registration applications to voters .
• Instruct voters how to complete a voter registration application.
• Distribute ballots.
• Answer general questions about the voting process.
• Help the voting process as needed
• Operate the election equipment (ballot counter, ballot box, and AutoMARK).

Rewards

• Obtain understanding and practical knowledge of voting laws in Minnesota.
• Earn $9 per hour (training and Election Day).
• Receive Community Service and Leadership Credit.
• Learn workplace etiquette skills.

Eligibility for payment

Selected student judges must complete and turn in the following forms to the City Clerk's Office:

• Student election judge trainee program and application
• Personal data sheet