Missoula County recruiting 600 election judges for June primary, November general

While the June primary may be months away and November even further, the Missoula County Elections office on Monday issued a call for election judges – 600 to be precise.

Elections Administrator Bradley Seaman said the high number of judges are needed to conduct both elections, reduce waiting times for voters and cover for any unexpected illnesses with Covid still part of the equation.

“It takes a community effort to conduct fair and organized elections,” said Seaman. “Election judges are champions of the election process who play a crucial role in ensuring the strength and integrity of the voting process by upholding election law and providing friendly customer service.”

This year's election will include two congressional races, including the newly created western district. Other races will be on the ballot, including the Public Service Commission, though that could be influenced by a pending court decision on claims of unbalanced voting districts.

As in all elections, judges greet voters, issue ballots, operate equipment and answer questions. They are paid for their service and their training, which is required by law and takes roughly three hours.

Advanced training also is offered for book judges and polling place managers.

“Many of the best election judge candidates are currently working in the community,” Seaman said. “When businesses support employees service in the election process, we can recruit and train judges who would otherwise be unavailable.”

Judges will be required to work the June primary and November general elections, and they may work a full or half shift. Election judges earn $9.20 an hour while polling place managers earn $15 an hour.

Election judges are typically assigned to their neighborhood polling place, and they also help process absentee ballots in the counting center.

For more information on working the election, call 258-4751 or emailing electioninfo@missoulacounty.us.