Become a Poll Worker, AKA Judge of Election in 2024

Have you ever considered becoming an election judge?

We encourage everyone, including high school and college students who fit the requirements to apply. This is an opportunity for you to earn some extra cash! (scroll down for details)

NOW is the time, stop listening to all the lip service being paid about cleaning up our elections and do something about it! The best suggestion we have is: become an Election Judge!

 

Judges of Election are paid to manage the precinct polling place and assist voters. The job is challenging, yet rewarding.

Judges share these responsibilities:

  1. Arrive at 5 a.m. on Election Day to set up equipment;
  2. Open the polls on time at 6 a.m. on Election Day;
  3. Issue the correct ballots to each voter and help voters with registration and other questions, from 6 a.m. through 7 p.m.
  4. Completing all reports after the polls close.

Requirements to Serve as a Poll Worker, AKA Judge of Election

Judges of Election must meet all of the requirements listed in the application, including being:

  • a US citizen
  • a registered voter in Cook County (if 18 or older)
  • able to speak, read and write English
Please refer to the application for the full list of requirements and qualifications.
Training Requirements for Poll Workers, AKA Judges of Election

All Election Judges are required to complete training, per the Illinois Election Code. For the safety of Election Judges and staff, the Board is offering training online for the 2024 Primary/General Election. Election Judges who have been assigned to a precinct will receive notification via email when the online training is available. The 2024 Primary is Tuesday, March 19 and the General Election is Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Compensation:

Pay for Judges of Election

Election Judges can earn anywhere from $170 to $255.

Payment is based on completion of training and service on Election Day. Extra compensation also is paid to judges who:

  • Pick up the Election Judge key envelope the week before Election Day;
  • Allow the use of the judge's cell phone (by all judges within the polling place) on Election Day;
  • Return the election materials to a receiving station on election night (to be determined by all judges on Election Day.)

Election Judge pay will be approximately $230 for each Judge who completes the online training and serves successfully on Election Day.

Approximately $170 for each Judge who serves successfully on Election Day without completing the online training program.

Approximately $255 for returning Judges who complete the online training prior to a previous even-numbered Election year, who completes the online training and serves successfully on Election Day.

Next question you might ask: how do I sign up?

OR, you're already signed up (we've had a lot of interest!!!).

Whatever your current situation is, WE THANK YOU for considering to put yourself out there to maintain election integrity in Chicago, to the best of your ability.

Some background before you sign up...

What If I'm Already Signed Up for 2024?

If you are already signed up with the Chicago Board of Elections for 2024 (please share that info in an email to: [email protected]), remember the active Election Judges have been confirmed by the Circuit Court of Cook County, and therefore cannot be removed by anyone without cause. Also, the Judge must agree to any re-assignment to a new precinct/ward and will have to be re-confirmed.

Here's what we fear IF we don't get enough Republican Election Judges for 2024...

After January, 2024 at 5:00 pm, the Chicago Board of Elections will begin filling the vacancies with applications received in their office and online. 

Once you've signed up for the process, please send us an email: [email protected] to let us know which Ward you requested for an assignment, as we can have our GOP Committeepersons go into the portal and check on your prospective assignment. Remember, the last day before the CBoE starts assigning people to Wards was in January, so, they have started to assign, but they still have plenty to fill!

Additional Resources

Reference Videos

These videos are reference materials.These videos are not a substitute for the official online training program, which will come to Election Judges via email.

2024 Judge of Election Handbook (coming soon)

NOTE: These documents are reference materials. These documents are not a substitute for completing the official online training. Official training links will come to Election Judges via email.

Extra Pay for Judges of Election

Payment is based on completion of training and service on Election Day. Extra compensation also is paid to judges who:
  - Pick up the Election Judge key envelope the week before Election Day;
  - Allow the use of the judge's cell phone (by all judges within the polling place) on Election Day;
  - Return the election materials to a receiving station on election night (to be determined by all judges on Election Day.)
  - Serve additional days in Vote By Mail ballot processing, nursing-home voting or in post-election counting activities at the Board's offices or warehouse.

Taxes and Withholding

Income earned by election judges and other election workers is subject to federal income tax; however, such income is not subject to income tax withholding. Those few election judges and election workers who earn $600 or more in any calendar year for multiple election assignments will receive an IRS Form 1099 at the end of the year. Election judges and election workers who also are employed by the City of Chicago or the County of Cook will receive a Form 1099 that will include income earned for election duties even if less than $600 annually. All individuals who may be eligible to receive a Form 1099 must complete an IRS Form W-9 and submit the completed W-9 to the Board.

Contact Information for Judges Department

  Attention: Judges Department
  Chicago Election Board
  69 W Washington St., Suite 600
  Chicago IL 60602-3006
  312-269-7984

High School & College Student Election Judges

Click here to apply to serve as a student judge of election at the March 19 & November 5, 2024 Election. 

Qualifications for HIGH SCHOOL Student Judges:

In order to qualify as a student judge, an applicant must:
1. Live in Cook County;
2. Be an incoming Junior (Class of 2025) or Senior (Class of 2024)
3. Be a U.S. citizen;
4. Be able to read, write, and speak English;
5. Successfully complete the online training program;
6. Be able to work on Election Day beginning at 5 a.m. until all duties are completed after the polls close;
7. Have the written approval of the student judge's parent or legal guardian; 
8. Have written approval from the student judge’s school principal;
9. Have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale; and
10. Meet any other qualifications set by law.

STUDENT Instruction and Training

State election law requires Judges of Election to complete the training program in order to receive extra compensation when serving on Election Day. An online training program is offered prior to Election Day. A student judge must satisfactorily complete the online courses in order to serve on Election Day.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners will equip Election Judges with facemasks, gloves, screen wipes and other disinfectant supplies.

Attention Election Attorneys

If you have completed the Chicago Election Board's online Judge of Election training curriculum in relation to the 2020 and/or 2022 elections, you may be eligible to receive MCLE credits for part of that training. Please check this page periodically for updates and further information. 

The Chicago Poll Worker Connection is live!

The Chicago Poll Worker Connection allows Election Judges to apply online, see their assignment details and see training details. You can direct potential applicants to pollworker.chicagoelections.gov

Thank you again for considering to serve as an election judge on March 19 and November 5, 2024. If you have ANY questions, please send them to [email protected] and we'll do our best to get back to you in a timely manner.

Serving as an election judge fulfills your civic duty AND is a civic honor, especially as a Republican in Chicago. Serving as a judge on election day opens up additional opportunities later on to serve as an Early Voting Official (even better pay), as well as serving as a judge AFTER the election, when the votes are being counted, determining if the mail-in ballots have valid signatures, voter intent, etc.....

If you have a particular ward where you wish to serve, contact the GOP Ward Committeeperson and they can assign you right away!

Please give it some serious consideration in the next few weeks. The application deadline is toward the end of April, however, the longer you wait, the less likely it is that the spot will be available in the ward you prefer to serve.

Will you sign up?