Student election judges play a crucial role by serving as the gatekeepers of democracy.
As part of a team of judges, you'll be responsible for helping voters and supervising polling place activity. You also get paid for it. Student election judges can earn up to $165 every election. If you're a high school junior or senior, you may apply to serve as a student election judge even though you're not old enough to vote.
Responsibilities
Student judges share the same responsibilities, hold the same authority and perform the same tasks as other election judges. They include:
- Opening the polling place in the morning and closing it at night
- Setting up election equipment
- Providing assistance to voters
- Signing in voters
- Verifying voter qualifications
- Distributing ballots
- Operating voting equipment
- Filling out forms
- Processing and transmitting votes at the end of the day
- Certifying vote totals
Eligibility
To be eligible to serve as a student election judge, you must be:
- Be a 16 years old
- Be a U.S. citizen by the time of the election
- Successfully complete an election judge training course
- Have approval from a parent or legal guardian
Hours
Judges work long hours, arriving at the polling place at 5 a.m. and working until the equipment is packed up after the polls close at 7 p.m.
Compensation
Trained Election Judges receive $165 for the day.
Commitment
Election judges are required to work the entire day.
