On the Radar: Election Judges
Everyone’s got a complaint about voting: “Who’s counting the ballots? Can’t trust the results! No election integrity!” Having Republican election judges at the polls on election day is the surest way to ensure votes are cast properly and counted correctly. By law, each of the nearly 300 polling stations around the city is supposed to have one Republican and one Democrat judge. When a Republican judge doesn’t show up, a Democrat fills the slot. And right now, we don’t have nearly enough judges. It’s up to us to ensure Baltimore’s elections are fair and honest. Please consider taking on this most important (paid!) position.
Qualifications For Election Judges:
- Must be at least 16 years old or older
- Must be a registered voter in Maryland
- Must be able to speak, read, and write the English language
- You cannot be an election judge and a candidate or currently hold a public or political office, nor can you be an election judge and Chairman, campaign manager, or treasurer for a political or candidate committee
Four Types Of Election Judges:
Voting Judges / $250.00:
- Responsibilities include opening the polls, verifying Voter Authority Cards, monitoring activity around the scanning units, explaining the voting process, directing voters to the scanning unit, checking the Voter Authority Card and signing it before Ballot is inserted into Scanning Unit, assisting in closing the polls, and completing other duties assigned by the chief judges.
Check-in Judges / $250.00:
- Responsibilities include opening the polls, verifying voter information in the precinct register, issuing Voter Authority Cards, issuing correct ballots, checking voter identification for certain first-time voters, referring all problems to the chief judges, assisting in closing the polls, and completing other duties assigned by the chief judges.
Provisional Ballot Judges / $250.00:
- Responsibilities include opening the polls, issuing provisional ballot applications and ballots, assisting voters with completing provisional ballot forms, ensuring provisional ballot materials are secure, assisting in closing the polls, and completing other duties assigned by the chief judges.
Chief Judges / $325.00:
- These are the supervisory officials responsible for ensuring an orderly election. They check the polling place before election day, plan the setup and flow of the polling place, assign work to other election judges, supervise the opening of the Ballot Marking Device, Scanning Unit, explain how to use the Ballot Marking Device and Scanning units, review the specimen ballot with voters, substitute for election judges when necessary, complete necessary paperwork, maintain the peace and protect the integrity of the voting process, make necessary calls to the local board of elections, post precinct voting totals, close the polls, and return the supplies, as a bipartisan team, to the office.
Term Of Office: Approximately two years, ending 13 weeks before the 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election. Serve as an election judge for all elections held during that period, including special elections.
Compensation: Compensation will be mailed 6-8 weeks after Election Day.
Mandatory Training Class: You are required by law to attend a training class and to serve on the day(s) you are assigned to work. You will receive $50.00 for attending the training session.
Join Our Team: Each Judge works as part of a team including one Democratic Judge and one Republican Judge. For more information concerning Election Judges, call the Election Judge Recruiters at (410) 396-5580.