With under 60 days to go before the Nov. 5 election, several local jurisdictions across central Maryland are still in need of volunteers to serve as election judges.
The need is greatest in Baltimore City, where city Election Director Armstead Jones said he could use another 2,000 judges. Baltimore typically requires about 2,500 judges to staff Election Day, but many of the people who sign up don’t show, Jones said. The city’s reserves were not enough to properly staff all positions for the May 14 primary when about 600 judges did not come to work, he said. The city is seeking extra judges, so it has a sufficient bench this fall.
Election judges in Baltimore are paid $50 for training and $250 on Election Day. Chief judges receive $325.
Baltimore County Election Director Ruie Lavoie said she still needs about 600 judges to ensure she has the 3,400 required for Election Day. The county is particularly in need of Republican judges, she said. More are needed to staff polling places in the western part of the county which is more heavily Democratic. Democratic judges are needed to staff locations in the northern part of the county which trends Republican, she said.