What are Judges of Election?

The judges of election are the officials responsible for the conduct of the election in the precinct polling place. The judges of election are the backbone of the electoral process.  Their jobs are challenging, interesting and personally rewarding.

In each precinct, the judges share in responsibilities, duties and authorities that include: 

(1) Opening the polling place and setting up voting equipment at 5 a.m. on Election Day;
(2) Conducting a fair and impartial election in the precinct polling place, allowing voting from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
(3) Tabulating the vote totals for the precinct and transmitting them to Election Central after the polls close at 7 p.m.  

The Judge of Election application for the term that ends with the 2012 Primary is available here. (NOTE: This form may not be used for those participating in the High School Student Judge program.) 

Salary

Judges of Election are paid $170 only upon completion of training and service on Election Day.

Extra compensation is also paid to judges who:

--­ Pick up the Election Judge key envelope on either the Saturday or Sunday prior to Election Day;
-- ­Allow the use of the judge's cell phone (by all judges within the polling place) on Election Day;
--­ Return the election materials to a receiving station on election night (to be determined by all judges on Election Day.)

The Judge of Election Handbook for the 2010 Primary will be available at training sessions. The contents of the handbook are available here:

  Table of Contents
  Chapter 1. Important Information About This Election
  Chapter 2. Important Information About Judges of Election
  Chapter 3. Who's Allowed in the Polling Place
  Chapter 4. Check Election Supplies/List of Supplies/Illustration of Supply Carrier
  Chapter 5. Setting up the Polling Place
  Chapter 6. During Voting Hours: Who May Vote; Provisional Ballots; Issuing Scan Ballots; Issuing Provisional Ballots; Issuing Touchscreen Voter Cards; Spoiled Ballot Procedure; Assistance for Voters with Disabilities
  Chapter 7. Closing the Polls
  Election Terms
  Forms Index
  Troubleshooting Voting Equipment
  Index

High School & College Student Judges of Election

The Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago also is proud to lead the United States in the employment of high school students and college students who serve as judges and in other support roles. In the 2008 elections, more than 4,500 students helped administer the elections in Chicago. Use these links to review more information on the High School Student Judge Program and the College Student Judge Program.