Election Judges

Are you (or is someone you know):

  • A resident of Minnesota?
  • A U.S. Citizen?
  • Not had your voting rights revoked?
  • Able to read, write, and speak English?
  • Eligible to vote?

Do you want to

  • Earn $12.00 per hour?
  • Get involved in the election process?
  • Work with the public?
  • Do something different than the same old run-of-the-mill stuff?
  • Get to meet lots of people?

If so, you (or someone you know) can be an election judge!

What does this involve?

  • There is a 2 hour training class (generally held in June/July)
  • Judges must be at the polling place at 6:00 A.M. and work until they are finished that evening (around 10:00 PM)
  • There is a Special Primary election on March 5, 2024.
  • There is a Primary election on August 13, 2024.
  • There is a General election on November 5, 2024. If you are an election judge at a place that is not your polling place, you may vote absentee.
  • Regular judges are paid $12.00 per hour; head judges are paid $15.00 per hour.

Who is eligible?

  • You must be eligible to vote in Minnesota
  • You must be able to read, write, and speak English
  • You cannot be a candidate or the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of any candidate on the ballot in that precinct
  • High school students 16-years-old and older may serve as trainee election judges.

How does a person sign up?

  • In person – Come to the City Clerk’s Office and give us your name, address and phone and whether you are interested in being a regular judge or head judge
  • By phone – call the City Clerk’s office at 507-437-9940 and give us your name, address and phone and availability and whether you are interested in being a regular judge or head judge
  • Complete this form. 

Please note: even when our office is not having an election upcoming, we will still accept information from people who want to apply to be an election judge.

Duties of an Election Judge

  • Set up the polling place
  • Operate voting equipment
  • Direct voters to the correct line
  • Register individuals to vote
  • Ensure all qualified voters are permitted to vote
  • Demonstrate how to vote
  • Distribute ballots to voters and assist voters
  • Close down polling place following voting
  • Determine results after polls close
  • Certify the polling place results

Election Judge Trainees:

  • must be 16 or 17 years old (once they reach 18 years of age, then they can apply to be a regular judge)
  • must be enrolled in a high school or homeschooled in Minnesota
  • may work from 6 am to no later than 10 pm at the polling place (half-day shifts are available)