Election Judge Information

Primary and general election day

Election judges must complete a two-hour training – we offer online and in-person classes.

After training, election judges work the primary (August) and general election (November) or just the general election, depending on their availability and on staffing needs.

Early voting

Early voting occurs during the week before Election Day and judges may work all days of voting during that week. We ask judges to work four days at a minimum. See the early voting page for voting hours.

Early voting judges working on a laptop computer must complete eight hours of training. Training is offered in-person in Saint Paul, with day and evening trainings available. During training, judges learn how to administer the voting processes using a laptop computer and other new procedures unique to early voting.

Early voting judges not interested in working on a computer must complete three hours of training. Judges learn about new early voting procedures.

Time off to serve

To qualify, you must provide your employer with written notice of the date and hours you will be working and the pay rate you will receive at least 20 days in advance of the election.

Your employer may:

• Reduce your salary or wages by the amount you are paid as an election judge during the time you are away from work.
• Restrict the number of its employees serving as election judges to no more than 20 percent from a single work site.

Election judge

• Eligible to vote in Minnesota:
  • A U.S. citizen.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • A resident of Minnesota for 20 days.
  • Finished with all parts of any felony sentence.
  • Not under guardianship status in which a judge has specifically revoked your right to vote.
• At least 18 years of age (if you are 16 or 17 years old, see our section on student election judges).
• Able to read, write and speak English.
• Complete a two-hour training.
• Individuals applying to be election judges need to declare their party affiliation, if they are affiliated with a major political party in Minnesota. If individuals are not affiliated with a major political party, they must state that they are unaffiliated.

Student election judge

• U.S. citizen.
• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Able to read, write and speak English.
• Complete an application and permission form that is to be signed by their parents/guardians and their school’s principal.
• Complete a two-hour training.

Election judges are paid hourly for training and Election Day. If desired, election judges may choose to volunteer their time and not be paid for service.

Precinct judge ($16/hour)

Assists with general polling place duties such as setting up and taking down the polling place, greeting and directing incoming voters, processing registered voters, handing out ballots and assisting voters with forms and other needs.

Alternate judge ($16/hour)

Begins the day at the Ramsey County Elections Office. They are sent to work at polling places that have absent election judges and are occasionally asked to deliver supplies.

Assistant head judge ($18/hour)

Must have previous experience serving in a polling place. The assistant head judge assists the head judge, manages the registration table and registers voters.

Head judge ($20/hour)

Must have previous experience serving in a polling place. The head judge manages the polling place.

Area judge (AJ) ($20/hour)

Must have previous experience serving in a polling place. The AJ monitors 10-12 polling places, assists head judges with issues, delivers supplies and other various duties.

Early voting judge ($22/hour)

Use a laptop computer to administer the voting process. For those not interested in working on a computer, early voting judges also greet and direct incoming voters, issue ballots, and assist voters with forms and other needs. Must be willing to work a minimum of four days during the early voting period.

Student judge ($16/hour)

Student judges perform duties similar to a precinct judge, but work a shorter day and are limited to certain jobs within the polling place. Please contact our office if you or someone you know are interested in serving as a student judge.

• 2020 head and assistant head judge survey
• 2020 election judge survey