I doubt there is any interest, but hey. IAMAn Election Judge on Tuesday. AMA.

I don't have a questions, but just have to give you credit for using "IAMAn"

glad i could make you wet

What exactly does your job consist of doing?

Sorry if it sounds like a stupid question

Since im new, i get to tell people to fill in corcles completely, no checks or x's, f and to follow all directions. I also take their 'confirmed registered' tickets and han them a ballot. Other jobs include Registering voters, confirming pre registered voters, and handling problems, such as voting more times than allowed in a section

You look like a perfect candidate for checking details.

:) i dont check for errors, i tell people how to not make errors

can a wizard love?

if hes okay with the fact that his lover will die and he is immortal

What schooling is required to be an Election Judge? And what's your background qualifying you?

You have to watch 8 power points describing the 7 jobs at a polling place. Then you have to take a test on your knowledge, and get zero wrong, but you can retake it as many times as you want

The most important question that nobody has asked; What of 7 jobs is so important that it get TWO power points?

one involved logistics, such as payment and shifts and set up and clean up

You get paid? How much?

10/hr

What are the 7 jobs? Are all 7 your responsibility or do you choose from one of those jobs?

Well there are 7 jobs between all election judges at a location. they are Welcomer, Election Day Register, pre registered confirmer, The guy who says fill the buble competely, guy who hands them a ballot, guy who tends to handycapped accessible voting machine, and head judge.

What were some of the questions like? Were they insultingly easy?

some were easy (when do polls open? where does the us flag go?) others were hard (where do the headphones go?) otheres were silly (who is the last person to vote? a)last person in line at 8 pm, b) the guy running and screaming from the parking lot at 8pm)

all were multiple choice and basically nobody finishes it on the first try.

all were multiple choice and basically nobody finishes it on the first try.

I did.

Also, why not post as a poll worker? "Election Judge" is going to make people think you're part of the justice system.

I dont make up my job title.

So which is it on the who votes last question?

last person in line at 8 pm

be prepared to get yelled and cussed at for violating people's "rights" after shutting the door...

ok

*handicapped. Good god you're a judge man.

it was saturday, mom

Why do you have judge in your title? What are you judging?

If someone showed up clearly drunk or wasted, can and do you deny them?

we judge fairness and openness i guess. theres no real reason. i think we should be election officials, which is what our name tags read, but my job title is election judge.

[deleted]

We are the election officials and do all those jobs.

Hi there! "Election Official" is a term used throughout federal law for the municipality or county representative. "Election Judge" is likely codified in your state's law as having certain responsibilities.

we get called both. but on my pay time sheet, we have to put election judge under explanation of work

What is the biggest problem you expect to face on Tuesday?

People not knowing where their location is. We actually have to do paper work for that.

As someone who's precinct was moved last election, with no notice to me (or anyone else that voted at the old precinct), thank you. I rolled into (what I thought was) my precinct, only to find all the lights off and the doors locked. Headed back over to where I knew another precinct was (actually closer to my house than where I was supposed to vote) and the poll workers there called the county election office. Once they found out where I was supposed to go, they even gave me directions. This really helped, as I live on a major road in a very rural area, and had no idea where the new location was. I really appreciate the effort they took to make sure I got where I needed to go.

My county has all that information online, and large maps at every location and big signs all around locations. we work hard to get you were youre going :)

What made you decide to become an Election Judge? How did you get it? And I guess I'll just ask if you have proof...

There were posters put up by the Political Sciene teacher next to every drinking fountain in the school las year. I looked into it and in my county, they pay you money, your boss is required to give you a paid day off. Sounded like a good deal. I have proof, but im pretty sure i trashed it. Ill check

cool, thanks.

I found a pay stub tht says 'elections', will that work?

It's fine. Mostly, I only care if you have some way of proving yourself. I'm not too picky. I'm totally fine with it! Enjoy the experience!

http://imgur.com/tZPu3

In the future, if you have proof of identity that you'd prefer to be confidential, you can send it along to the moderators via e-mail (there's an e-mail address for this purpose on the sidebar over there -> ).

They keep your private information private, and they post in the thread stating that you've provided proof of your claims.

thanks.

I'll take my ballot here in Oregon to the local library and drop it off thank you very much. Oregon is a vote by mail state (the only?) and compared to voting at a polling place, I think this is a far better way to vote. Do you find people tend not to vote on local issues because they weren't aware of a special local tax initiative or candidate?

i cant really disclose results, because i have not worked the end of the day shift yet so i have no idea how people vote.

Who do you support in this election?

Gary Johnson.

I can't figure out why his slogan wasn't: "Gimmie 5(%)"

Because if he gets 5 percent of the popular vote he gets to be treated like a major party, not a 3rd party. i believe.

i know that, I said I can't figure out why it wasn't his slogan.

im pretty sure his website reads that on a splash page

So, what happens if someone shows up with their voter registration card but doesn't have an id? Do they get to vote?

If you are registered and your name is on our list you dont need id in Minnesota.

I wish I was still in Minnesota. Great state.

Come on down! what area?

Upvote for Minnesota. I'm actually voting for the first time this year in Minnesota, is there anything I need to know to not embarrass myself? I plan on walking into my voting place and assuming everything will be pretty self explanatory.

Edit: I did register before hand, if that changes things at all.

if you know your name and can say it out loud AND write it, youre in the clear.

JUST TO MESS WITH PEOPLE: request to use the electronic/automatic voting machine. its for handicapped people but anyone can use it if they ask. and about 0 people will use it anyway so itll be fun.

Awesome, thanks for the response. Here's hoping you don't deal with too many crazies come Tuesday. Don't know where you are but I want to make it as easy on my Chaska peeps as possible.

the worst type of person is the one that doesnt know their polling location or house on a map :) cos we have a giant map with polling locations shown, but no street names. We only had one like that in august for the primary, but he was respectful about it. and dont get me wrong, those people arent bad, things go smoothly the whole time

I have some questions, I'd really appreciate it if you could answer all questions you know the answer to!

• Do you use paper ballots exclusively?

• How do you submit the totals?

• How do you deal with accessibility issues; blind voters?

• When do you verify whether there are enough ballots?

• What happens when there aren't enough?

• Do they get stored? Where, by who and how long? Who has access?

• What are your ballots like - that is, how do they look? Are they butterfly ballots?

• Can you see what party a voter registered with?

• Have you received instructions about limitations on who can be present during the counting of the votes?

in the polling place, its all paper.

We have a machine that voters put ballots into that reads the ballot, and remembers the information. at the end of the day, we open the machine and tell it to print, and it prints the HUGE list of all the votes, and at the bottom it says the totals. we call the county and tell them those totals.

We have a machine that will read a ballot aloud for blind people. no one ever uses it so im not sure how it works.

since we do election day registration here, the amount of ballots can be tricky. but they usually give us twice the amount needed anyway so we never have a run out problem

The extras are brought back to county with the booths and machines

ballots look like a multiple choice test. question, then answers below.

if they election day register, i guess

We dont count votes (except write ins). our machine does, but everyone is presnt when we read results.

we call the county and tell them those totals.

What prevents local voting boards from reporting invented numbers to the county? I can easily imagine a corrupt voting board deciding that they don't like the numbers they got, reporting their own invented numbers, and then "loosing" the ballots in case their results were questioned.

I feel like there has to be more to this than a phone call.

we also bring ballots back, and there are equal dems and repubs at every location. one side would have a riot if the other manipulated.

Do you need to be a lawyer or judge to do this? I'm interested in keeping the polling places free of fraud and intimidation - can I be an election judge?

Its probably too late by now, but fuck, anyone can do it. even 16 year olds can, if they do training.

How easy would it be to rig?

VERY difficult. 3 people are keeping counts of how many votes are cast an how many voters go through, and 8 or so people from all parties recognized by the state are there at the end to report results.

Can you come back on here after election day so you can answer what the most ridiculous thing you saw someone do?

yes

How much money do you make?

my county does 10/hr, my friends does 6.55/hr

I did this in 2006. Be prepared for extreme boredom and stupidity. I had someone legitimately ask me what the difference between Democrat and Republican was. >_>

i know, i did it during the state primary this year, boring but worth it

Have you ever pooped... a balloon?

Once or twice. but i like to keep it a secret

Can you tell us what state you are working for?

Minnesota

Any comments on the demographics of the voters coming into your station vs the demographics of your area? I am guessing you see few young people go into the polls.

I dont think any minorities actually live in the area my location services. No, i can think of 2 families. This neighborhood is in a upper middleclass white suburb, so most families are middle aged parents with young children. few kids stay around after they turn 18, so pretty much no kids (18-21). maybe a few.

1) When do the election workers get to vote?

2) Do the election workers vote at the place they work at, or do they have to go to a different place?

3) Have you ever observed someone violating the law (pressuring voters, trying to vote twice, etc.) in your career?

before/after their shift or absentee

they can only vote at their location. if you work your location, you can vote on down time

no

So what if I don't have my registration card? Or haven't received it in the mail yet?

if youre on our list and pre registered, you dont need id in Minnesota.

Have you been trained in how to deal with pesky "True the vote" teabaggers?

nope. but i would refer them to the head judge.

X-Factor or American Idol?

here comes honey booboo

i kid, i kid

You doubted there would be any interest, and yet have landed on the front page. You are a judge, but I question your judgement.

it baffles me anyone would be interested.

Where you told anything about electronic devices in the polling place? I have found many people have been violating there own ballot secrecy in the polling place this year and posting voted ballots to Facebook and twitter (which kind if starts down the vote buying/selling route)

there is a no electronics sign out the door of the room we are in, but hey, we cant follow them behind the curtain to stop them.

I realized yesterday that my voter registration forms were filed under a misspelled name. Will I have difficulties voting or will I even be able to vote at all?

in my county you have to fill out paperwork but it takes 2 min then you get a ballot

Do you have a clipboard?

nope. i have a spindle to puncture tickets though

Does your state have early voting? if not, why not?

we have absentee balloting and election day registration. no excuses.

Who are you rigging the election for this year?

Gary Johnson

kidding

Where's the proof you're an election judge?

i posted it on a comment. look for it, its a pay stub http://imgur.com/tZPu3

oh look its still on my paste

As someone familiar with the process, do you believe that ballot tampering happens?

Not on my watch

You're a judge, not an Election Inspector - so you're not really running the election at that polling place, right?

no, we run the election. and the county call us judges.