Suburban voters can do their part for local democracy and earn some cash in the process by registering to serve as an Election Judge for the Cook County Clerk’s Office in the November 8, 2022, Gubernatorial General Election.
Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough is encouraging all residents to serve as an Election Judge or Polling Place Technician and to work on Election Day. The Clerk’s Office has precincts at 782 polling locations that will require staffing with poll workers throughout all communities in suburban Cook County. Election Judges are paid $200 and Polling Place Technicians $365 – and the Clerk’s Office provides training for both positions.
The Clerk’s Office is also putting out a call to encourage high school and college students to consider serving as judges. The Clerk’s Office was lucky enough to employ around 300 student judges who helped voters and their fellow Election Judges at the polls run a safe and secure Election Day.
“Our Judges are the gatekeepers for election operations and their work is critically important to keeping Election Day running smoothly,” said Yarbrough. “They are also the unsung heroes of our democratic process who provide a vital public service to voters leading up to and on Election Day.”
The two poll worker positions available include:
- Election Judge: These judges greet voters, sign them in, and work together to ensure the polling place is running smoothly and voters are properly served. This position earns $200.
- Polling Place Technician: Technicians work with Election Judges to check supplies and equipment and assist with the setup, maintenance, and breakdown of election equipment. Due to the additional equipment responsibilities, Polling Place Technicians receive additional training and earn $365.
Election Judges must be a registered Cook County voter or an eligible college or high school student (16 or older). The Clerk’s Office is also in need of bilingual Election Judges in many precincts with high concentrations of Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Tagalog, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Gujarati, Urdu, and Arabic-speaking voters who are not proficient in English and may need special assistance at the polls.
Anyone who wishes to serve as an Election Judge is encouraged to apply online at cookcountyclerk.com/work.
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