What Does an Election Judge Do?  

Election judges are responsible for the administration of election procedures in the voting place on election day.  Election judges are trained to handle all aspects of voting at the polling place.  Serving as an election judge is a chance to learn about elections and is a great service to the community.

What are some of the duties of Election Judges? 

• To open and close the polls (judges work from 6:00 a.m. to about 9:00 p.m.)
• To be responsible for all election materials
• To ensure only qualified voters are permitted to vote
• To ensure all election laws are followed
• To distribute ballots
• To ensure voter privacy is maintained
• To assist voters requesting assistance
• To maintain order in the precinct throughout the day
• To certify the precinct election results

Who is eligible? 

You must be eligible to vote in Minnesota and able to read, write and speak English.  Students 16 and 17 years old can be election judge trainees.  

There are restrictions on having relatives serve together as election judges.  A relative is defined as a spouse, parent, stepparent, child, stephchild, sibling or stepsibling.  

Relatives cannot serve together in the same precinct at the same time.  In addition, relatives of a candidate, and anyone who temporarily or permanently lives in the same house as a candidate, cannot serve in the precinct where the candidate is on the ballot.  Candidates cannot serve in a precinct where they are on the ballot. 

How are Election Judges Selected? 

Election Judge appointments are made by the City Clerk's Office depending on the needs for each election and ward, and are approved by the City Council.  Cloquet has 6 polling locations and are staffed by 5-6 election judges.  

How are Election Judges Trained?

New judges must attend a two (2) hour training course administered by Carlton County.   Judges are also required to attend a one (1) hour review course prior to each election.  Judges are paid to attend the class.  

Time Off Work to Serve as an Election Judge

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 to be absent from work must be accompanied by a city certification that details your hourly pay as an election judge as well as the hours you will serve.  

Your employer may reduce your salary or wages by the amount that your will receive for serving as a judge.  In addition, your employer may restrict the number of his/her employee who are serving as election judges to no more than 20 percent of the total work force at any single worksite. 

How to Apply

If you're interested in serving as an election judge, please complete the election judge application form (PDF) and return it to Kris St. Arnold, City Clerk, using the contact information below.

Contact

Kris St. Arnold, City Clerk
Cloquet City Hall
101 - 14th Street
Cloquet, MN 55720
kstarnold@cloquetmn.gov 

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