Election Judges: Their duties and responsibilities

              WHAT ARE JUDGES OF ELECTION?
Judges of elections are responsible for the administration of election procedures in the polling place on election day. They are in the position of ensuring that the election process is administered fairly and in accordance with the law.
WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO BE AN ELECTION JUDGE?
•
Be a citizen of the United States;
•
Be of good repute and character;
•
Be able to speak, read, and write the English language;
•
Be skilled in the four fundamental rules of mathematics;
•
Be of good understanding and capable;
•
Not be a candidate for any office in the election and not be elected committeeman; and
•
Reside in and be entitled to vote in the precinct where selected to serve as judge. However, in each precinct one judge of each party may be appointed form outside the precinct, but from within the county. All judges must be electors within the county
HOW ARE JUDGES SELECTED?
In national state, county, township and municipal elections, judges of election are selected by the county board, or if appropriate, the board of elections commissioners, from lists furnished by the chairmen of the county central committees of the two leading political parties. For each polling place three judges are appointed from one party and two from another.
In precincts under the jurisdiction of the county clerk, the party which cast the highest average number of votes at the most recent three gubernatorial elections in the precinct shall be represented by three judges; the party which cast the second highest number of votes at the three most recent gubernatorial elections in the precinct shall be represented by two judges.
Under the jurisdiction of the board of elections commissioners, the two leading political parties alternate having majority representation. One party is represented by three judges of election in each of the odd-numbered precincts and by two judges of election in each of the even-numbered precincts; the other party is represented by three judges in each of the even-numbered precincts and by two judges in each of the odd-numbered precincts.
After selections are made, a report is filed in the circuit court and application is made for their confirmation and appointment by the circuit court.
HOW ARE JUDGES TRAINED?
In each precinct at least one judge representing each political party must be certified as having satisfactorily completed, within the preceding six months, a training course and examination for judges of election. This required course covers the duties and responsibilities of election and consists of at least four hours of instruction, an examination which test reading skills, ability to work with poll lists, ability to add, and knowledge of election laws governing the operation of polling places.
HOW MAY I BECOME AN ELECTION JUDGE?
Contact the chairman of the party of your choice or your county clerk or Board of Election Commissioners and express your interest in serving as a Judge of Election.
Election judges are vital to the conduct of efficient and honest elections to which voters are entitled.