Election Judge

Inver Grove Heights' polling locations are staffed by citizens who are appointed as Election Judges. 

In 2024 there will be three elections.

• Presidential Nomination Primary on Tuesday, March 5
• State Primary on Tuesday, August 13.
• General Election on Tuesday, November 5. 

In addition to working those days, Election Judge training (paid) is required prior to working in a precinct on Election Day. Multiple training sessions will be offered throughout the year.

Election Judges are responsible for the administration of election procedures in each precinct on each Election Day. Serving as an Election Judge is an opportunity to give back to the community.  Throughout each election day you will perform all of the following activities:

• Prepare the polling location for voting activities. (Set up equipment and voting materials.)
• Be a Greeter Judge. (Greet voters and verify polling location.)
• Be a Register/Registration Judge. (Check-In Registered Voters and Register New Voters on the iPad ePollbook.)
• Be a Ballot Judge. (Demonstrate how to mark a ballot, certify ballots and provide ballots to voters.)
• Be a Ballot-Counter Judge. (Monitor and resolve ballot counter messages.)
• Those who serve as Head Judges lead election activities in the precinct.

• You must be at least 18 years of age by the election day you work, a resident of Minnesota for at least 20 days, and a citizen of the United States.
• You cannot be the husband, wife, parent, child, brother or sister of a candidate, or live with a candidate.
• You cannot be related to or live with another Election Judge working in the same precinct during the same shift.
• You cannot be a candidate for the election in which you are serving as an Election Judge.
• You cannot be an Election Judge unless you can read, write, and speak English.
• You must be able to stay focused in a noisy and active environment.
• You must be comfortable using an iPad or Tablet.

To ensure political party balance in each precinct, Election Judges must provide their party affiliation to the City Clerk. (See Supplemental Questions.)

In 2024, Election Judges will be paid a rate of $12.88 per hour. Head Judges will be paid a rate of $15.19 per hour. 

Your employer is required to give you time off from work to be an Election Judge without a reduction in pay.* To qualify, you must:  

1. Notify your employer in writing at least 20 days in advance of Election Day.
2. Attach a copy of your schedule and pay rate form (provided by the City) to your written notice.

*"Without a reduction in pay" means you get to earn at least the same amount you would have, had you gone to work that day. In practice, this means your employer can ask you to turn over the amount you earn as an Election Judge during hours you would have normally been scheduled to work, or your employer can deduct that amount from your normal pay.  You can voluntarily take a vacation day to be fully paid by your employer and receive the Election Judge pay you earn as extra income. An employer cannot force you to take vacation or any other form of paid leave.  If requested, the City Clerk will provide a letter identifying the statute that allows for this activity.   All Election Judges are required to attend a state-mandated, three-hour elections-training class during every even year. Several training sessions will be conducted by City elections staff at City Hall during the day and in the evening. Head Judges will have an additional two hours of training for a total of five hours. The City Clerk will notify hired Election Judges of the dates and times for training. 

The quantity of Election Judges staffed in each precinct depends upon the needs of each election.