EP election judges readying for polls

During June and July, the city of Eden Prairie trained at least 400 people to be election judges, also known as “poll workers,” for the Aug. 13 primary election and the Nov. 5 general election.

On Election Day, these poll workers are responsible for setting up polling places, registering and signing in voters, distributing and explaining ballots, assisting those who need help, recording and certifying precinct results, and closing down the polling places.

Election judges can work the entire Election Day, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., or part of the day, either from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 2 to 10 p.m.

Eden Prairie has more than 600 election judges in its system, according to City Clerk David Teigland, with around 275 expected to work during the Aug. 13 primary.

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Election judges ensure integrity of the election process

“We follow strict procedures specified by Hennepin County and the state to ensure election integrity, including testing all equipment that is used before each election,” Teigland said.

Precincts have a mix of Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated judges. Election judges work in teams of at least two people when handling ballots.

“Processes with two election judges from different political parties ensure fairness,” said Sharon Borine, president of the League of Women Voters of Minnetonka/Eden Prairie/Hopkins. “This role as watchdog is especially prevalent in the final verification at the end of the night when all election judges participate in verification of system counts, ensuring there was no process tampering.” 

After polls close, teams of judges return ballots to the City Center to ensure a clear chain of custody of all sensitive equipment, ballots and other documents.

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Great way to contribute to the community

Being an election judge is a “great way to continually contribute to my community,” said Nancy Bollweg, who worked her first election in 1980 in Richfield and has been a head election judge in Eden Prairie since 2002. “I have also made some really good friends over the years.”

Being an election judge is a family tradition for Bollweg, as her mother was an election judge for 25 years in Richfield.

“When I was in elementary school, I would get to see her working on Election Days,” Bollweg said. Her father was also an election judge in Richfield and Eden Prairie. 

Current needs are covered, but applications are still
accepted

Eden Prairie currently has enough judges to cover expected needs, according to Teigland.

“We continue to accept applications, but can’t guarantee that everyone who applies at this point will have an opportunity to serve,” he said.

To be an election judge in Minnesota, individuals must be U.S. citizens at least 18 years old, Minnesota residents for at least 20 days, and eligible voters who can read, write, and speak English. They must also attend mandatory training.

Students who are 16 and 17 years old can serve as election judge trainees.

According to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website, candidates cannot serve as election judges in a precinct where they are on the ballot. Relatives of a candidate or anyone who lives in the same house as a candidate can also not serve in a precinct where the candidate is on the ballot. In addition, relatives cannot serve as election judges in the same precinct at the same time.

Election judges can be paid an hourly rate or volunteer their time. Pay varies depending on the city, with Eden Prairie paying $13 an hour.

For more information about becoming an election judge in Eden Prairie, visit the city’s website.