Election Judge - Absentee Ballot Board
Hennepin County’s Elections department is seeking to fill temporary election judge positions to be members of the Hennepin County Absentee Ballot Board through the 2026 General Election. Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a $500 referral bonus.
About the role
These are limited duration (temporary), part-time, non-benefit earning positions classified as Office Specialist I. Work is performed on-site at 625 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55487 during the 2026 absentee voting periods:
- July 20 - August 12
- October 16 - November 11
Normal business hours are 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and subject to availability of work. Weeknights, weekends, and 8 p.m. on election day may be required.
Responsibilities
- Compare signatures on absentee ballot envelopes with signatures on absentee ballot applications verifying envelopes meet all legal requirements to be accepted.
- Support absentee ballot processing operations.
- Other absentee ballot board duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Applicant name on one of the two major party election judge lists provided by the Secretary of State’s Office (Democratic-Farmer-Labor party or Republican party).
- Meet all basic requirements to serve as an election judge in Minnesota, including eligibility to vote in Minnesota and ability to read, write, and speak English.
- One of the following:
- One or more full-time equivalent years of office clerical experience.
- Six months or more of office clerical experience and completion of the Office Specialist Pathway Training program.
- Education substituted for experience on a semester (12 credits) basis.
Restrictions:
- Candidates for office cannot be an election judge in a precinct where they appear on the ballot, including actively campaigning as a write-in candidate.
- A person who is a relative of a candidate for office cannot serve in a precinct where that candidate is on the ballot. Relatives include spouse, parent, child, stepchild, brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister.
- A person who temporarily or permanently lives in the same house as a candidate cannot serve in a precinct where that candidate is on the ballot.
- Election judges who are relatives to each other cannot serve together in the same precinct during the same shift but may work separate, non-overlapping shifts.
- A challenger appointed to contest voter eligibility cannot serve as an election judge.
Skills
- Understanding of basic elections policy and procedures.
- Ability to work in accordance with Minnesota statutes and rules.
- Ability to follow instructions completely and accurately.
- Demonstrated teamwork skills working with a diverse group of co-workers.
- Ability to meet daily deadlines.
Nice to have
- Experience working as an election judge on election day.
- Experience working as an absentee ballot board member during previous elections.
Pay
$22.50 - $26.98 hourly
About the department
Hennepin County Elections works with partners at the federal, state, and local level to provide voting services to over one million eligible county residents in over 400 polling places. Program areas include voter registration, absentee voting, voter education and engagement, local election clerk training, voting technology, election day operations, results reporting and certification, recounts and audits, candidate filing, campaign finance reporting, violation investigations, and elections data stewardship.
About Hennepin County
Hennepin is the largest county government organization in Minnesota. Our employees work to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for residents and communities. Jobs align with our mission to serve residents through transformative services that eliminate disparities, eliminate inequities, and create opportunity for all. Employees receive a combination of generous benefits and positive workplace culture, including meaningful work, competitive pay, work-life balance, a variety of benefits, and opportunities to grow.