Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold is encouraging Coloradans to get involved with the state’s elections by serving as Election Judges in the State Primary on June 30. Many poll workers are older and/or retired and may opt out of participating in 2020, so during these uncertain times Griswold’s office is working to recruit enough judges to ensure there are enough for the two upcoming statewide elections to run smoothly.
Serving as an Election Judge is a temporary, paid position. Pay differs county to county, but your base hourly amount will be increased by an additional $3 per hour this year. Sick leave is also included. Election Judges will be provided with appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) while performing their duties.
Election Judges work at Voter Service & Polling Centers. They greet voters, check them in, explain the voting equipment, and assist in voter registration. In bipartisan teams, Election Judges pick up ballots from ballot drop boxes, conduct ballot signature review, open envelopes and process ballots, among other things.
Election Judges are needed for varying periods of time from June 1 through July 22 depending on the needs of the individual counties. You can be affiliated with any political party or unaffiliated. In some counties, there is a high need for those who speak multiple languages.
Here’s some information on the basic requirements.
To facilitate this effort, the Secretary of State’s office has developed a webpage where Coloradans can sign up to show their interest in becoming an election judge.
“As the nation’s youngest Secretary of State, I want to encourage a new generation of people to get involved with our elections this year by serving as Election Judges,” said Secretary Griswold.
“Being an Election Judge is a great way to get involved in our democracy while getting a front-row seat to see how Colorado’s election process works. It is also important work because judges keep our Voter Service and Polling Centers operating.”
“We need the next generation of Coloradans, who are at a lower risk of getting sick, to step up and serve as election judges to protect our democracy during this crisis,” said Adams County Clerk Josh Zygielbaum. “I encourage any Coloradan who is able to work as an election judge to not only earn extra income but to also serve your community.”
Coloradans who have not yet reached voting age can also participate. Colorado offers a Student Election Judge program for juniors and seniors in high school (ages 16 and 17) that enables young people to work at polling places and gain an understanding for how democracy works in their community while getting paid for their work.
If you want to serve as an Election Judge, you can go here to fill out an online form.
If Election Judges are needed in your area, a representative from a county clerk’s office will contact you.