Election Judges

It is the thought of a few unhappy losers of the last election that being appointed as an election judge is some great position one gets by being connected and that normal people do not walk in off the street and become election judges.  They believe that some how there is a master plot every election to rig the process.  Nothing is farther from the truth. 

As the Democratic Committeeman I have always worked hard to fill all of the Democratic election judge spots.  I cannot remember the last time the Democratic slots were not filled going into Election Day.  I also have, as much as possible, worked to develop a group of additional people who want to serve as Election Judges that we call stand-by judges.  On every Election Day my actual volunteers go out, take campaign time to report shortages in judges, get names and pick up new judges and drive these people in that stand-by pool to the polling place.  That list is developed because it is reasonable to anticipate that approximately 25 Judges will no show at the polling place on Election Day morning. 

Most of these judges appointed on Election Day are people I do not know, have never meet and often never see again.  The point is to make the voting go as smooth as possible.  Make sure there are enough judges to give breaks for lunch, close down at night and handle the rushes in the morning and the late afternoon.

As for the long serving election judges, many of the them are people I know from visiting the polling places on Election Day to thank them for working.  The same few above mentioned critics think that is electioneering, but I consider it good management practices to acknowledge that these people are working a 15 to 17 hour day on what is often thankless work.  I will always take the time to thank them for the effort and their continued commitment in spite of these challenges.  I have on occasion seen some of them at community meetings, in the grocery store, at a block party or CAPS meeting maybe, but for many I never see them except on Election Day.

Finally, very few election judges are volunteers because the simple truth is that any campaign would rather have its volunteers working outside of the polling place on Election Day.  Of course some election judges support candidates in a race, but those who believe that Gordon didn't have any supporters in the ranks of the election judges are seriously deluded.

There are some who cannot seem to let go of the idea that our wards' election process is incredibly corrupt and that election judges are essential pieces in winning an election.  That is nonsense.  For  those who are so concerned please, become a judge yourself, experience the work first hand and see what being a Judge is really about.   There is always room for more hands provided you are willing to take training, show up on time, follow the law, be a good co-worker and work a very long day for not enough money.