Do I have to use vacation time to work as an election judge?
State law allows you to receive time off from work to be an election judge without a loss of wages. To qualify, you must notify your employer in writing at least 20 days before the election you will be working in and let them know your rate of pay as an election judge.
The Secretary of State's Office has prepared a memo that can be shared with your employer explaining the requirements of state law around allowing employees to serve as election judges.
Your employer can reduce your salary or wages by the amount you are paid for being a judge during the hours you are away from work. (For example: If you normally work 8 hours, and your regular salary is $15 per hour and your election judge salary will be $10 per hour, your employer can reduce your normal salary of $120 by $80 and pay you the difference of $40.) You can also choose to take a vacation day to be fully paid by your employer and receive the judge salary you earn as extra income. An employer cannot require you to take vacation time to serve as an election judge. (M.S. 204B.195)
What are the requirements for students to serve as election judges?
Trainee Election Judges:
- 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.)
What is a head judge and how are those roles chosen?
In every polling place, there are two co-head judges. These people oversee the polling location, and help provide direction to the other election judges in the polling place. Typically, head judges have served as an election judge in the past.
If you are interested in serving as a head judge for the first time, contact us and let us know.
