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Work on Election Day

Apply to Be an Election Judge

Election judges are needed to help administer elections. They open and close the polls on election day, assist voters who need assistance, ensure only qualified voters are permitted to vote, and certify precinct election results.

What's 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
  • Assist voters
  • Close down the polling place following voting
  • Tabulate and transmit results after polls close
  • Certify the polling place results

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's 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 guide the other election judges. Typically, head judges have served as election judges.

If you are interested in serving as a head judge for the first time, contact us and let us know.

  • Required paid training classes are offered in person and online.
  • Judges must be at the polling place at 6 a.m. and work until they are finished that evening (around 9:30 pm for regular judges or later for head judges)
    • Half-day shifts are also available: 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. or 1:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.
  • 2026 Election Date: 
    • August 11, 2026 - Statewide Primary 
    • November 3, 2026 - General Election
  • If you are an election judge at a place that is not your polling place, you may vote absentee before Election Day.
  • You can work in any or all of the elections in 2026.
  • For the 2026 elections, judges will be paid a stipend.
  • Judges can also choose to volunteer on Election Day. There is more flexibility in volunteers' shifts.

  • 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 and older may serve as student election judges.

Election Judge Resources

Once you are accepted to work as an election judge for the City of Rochester, you will receive information about how to complete your training online. Judges can only be paid for training completed through our online portal, with documentation of completion.

Election judge training needs to be completed once in a two year cycle.

These trainings are provided as an audio-visual resource to refresh Election Judge knowledge regarding equipment used on election day. 

MN Secretary of State Videos:

Official training is provided by Olmsted County, including in-person and online training through the training portal. If you have a question about official training, please contact Elections@RochesterMN.gov.  Otherwise, please feel free to watch these videos to refresh your knowledge about the election equipment and election judge roles.

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City of Rochester

201 4th Street SE
Rochester, MN 55904

PHONE: 507-328-2311
FAX: 507-328-2901

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