Election Judge Information

 

Become an Election Judge

 

We are currently looking for Talbot County Election Judges. 

See NEW enhanced "Compensation and Training" rates below.

Click here to be an Election Judge: Talbot Election Judges  

or contact the office at 410-770-8099 and an application will be sent to you, 

or for more information go online to the State Board of Elections: www.elections.maryland.gov/get_involved/election_judges

 

The Election Judges are a very important part of the electoral process because they are responsible for administering the actual voting procedures in each precinct.  It would be impossible to conduct an election without them because they are the only contacts between the Election Office and the general public during voting hours.  Talbot County Board of Elections is always looking for citizens who would like to serve as Election Judges during the Primary and General Elections.  Election Judges serve on Election Day from 5:45 a.m. until all duties are completed after the close of the polling place at 8:00 p.m.  Duties include making sure that qualified voters who are properly registered are able to cast their vote in a trouble free environment.  They must deal courteously and patiently with the public and coworkers.  Election Judges must possess good judgement, be reliable, courteous and able to follow procedures exactly. 

Under Maryland law, you can serve as an election judge if you are: 

  • Age 16 or older*;
  • Are a registered voter in Maryland;
  • Physically and mentally able to work at least a 15-hour day;
  • Willing to work outside your home precinct;
  • Able to sit and/or stand for an extended period; and
  • Can speak, read, and write English. 

* If you are 16 years old, you may be able to serve if you show your local board of elections that you are qualified to be an election judge and a parent or guardian gives permission.

 NOTE: Some positions require election judges to be able to lift boxes and other items weighing 10 to 25 lbs.

 You cannot be an election judge and a:

  •        Candidate or currently hold a public or political office, including State and county political party central committees, or
  •        Chairman, campaign manager or treasurer for a political or candidate committee 

 Compensation and Training  

 

Training: Maryland law requires all persons who desire to become an Election Judge to attend a training session.  All Judges are paid $100.00 for attending a designated mandatory in-person training program. This amount is reduced to $50.00 if you do not serve on Election Day. 

 

Compensation:  * Early Voting and Election Day compensation will be paid at the following rates for each day served. 

Chief Judge ** $300.00
Check-In Judge $250.00
Provisional/Same Day Registration (SDR) Judge**   $300.00
Voting Judge $250.00
Stand-By Judge $100.00

 

 *  NEW for 2024:  A retention bonus of $100 per day will also be paid for those that have previously served as an Election Judge. 

** Travel pay of $30.00 will also be provided to any Chief Judge or Provisional/SDR Judge who picks up or returns election materials. 

 

Election Judges' Brief Descriptions:

 

Chief Judge - serve as polling place supervisors. Each polling place is staffed with two chief judges of opposite party affiliations. Chief judges are selected from experienced election judges and must exhibit: knowledge of the electoral process and procedures, patience and flexibility, strong communication and organizational skills, an attention to detail, sensitivity to the needs of voters and good people skills. 

Provisional/SDR Judge - assist qualified new voters and provisional voters. This judge will work closely with the chief judges to process these voters in a helpful and timely manner.

Check In Judge - the first election judge the voters will come in contact with to begin their voting experience. The check in judge must have basic knowledge in computers to process the voter quickly and correctly. 

Voting Judge - the election judge will assist the voter with receiving the correct ballot, directing the voter how to go through the process of voting whether with the paper ballot or the Ballot Marking Device, and ensure that the voter completes the process when the voter inserts the ballot into the scanner. 

Standby Judge - the election judge will be on call to fill positions that may come open within a polling place anywhere in Talbot County from the time of training to election day. This judge must be willing to travel anywhere throughout the county and be ready to be called with sometimes very short notice.

 

For more information or to sign up, you may also email us at talbot.elections@maryland.gov or contact our office 410-770-8099. 

Page last modified Friday, January 19, 2024 9:16:26 AM