(Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted by Mary Kiffmeyer.)

“Transparency has always been a fundamental value of our elections, and our election judges play a key role in ensuring our elections are transparent, honest, and open,” said Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer. 

“Election judges are trained to handle all aspects of voting at the polling place for the primary and general elections. They cannot tell you who to vote for, but they are available to help you with any other aspect in the voting process such as checking in voters and handing out the ballots. Election judges stand guard over the polling location and ballot box on Election Day. They also have the important role of serving on Absentee Ballot Boards and helping the county process absentee ballots in the 46 days leading up to Election Day. 

“I can personally attest that this position is truly one of the best examples of bipartisanship, as I served as an election judge for more than 11 years. Minnesota law states that there should be an equal number of Republican and Democrat election judges at each polling place, which serves as an important check and balance to ensure a fair election. And in the polling place, regardless of party, we share a common goal of serving Minnesotans.

“I am calling for strong Republicans and strong Democrats to volunteer as election judges. We need volunteers across Minnesota. This is a great service to our state and offers the opportunity to learn about elections firsthand. I would encourage anyone who is interested in participating to reach out to me with any questions.”

Election judges are eligible for an hourly wage and milage reimbursement. Learn more about being an election judge at the Minnesota DFL’s information page, dfl.org/be-an-election-judge, or the Minnesota GOP’s information page, MNGOP.com/election-protection.