Become a student election judge and help run a polling place in your community!

The YMCA Center for Youth Voice works with cities and counties across Minnesota to recruit and coordinate student election judges. In Minnesota, high school students can work as student election judges if they meet the following criteria:

• Are age 16 or older on or before Election Day
• Are a U.S. citizen
• Have received permission from their parent or guardian if under age 18
• Have received permission from their school if serving at an election during the school year

Before Election Day, students must apply to be an election judge trainee through their city or county elections office and attend and complete a two-hour training. 

On Election Day, student election judges work on a team with other election judges and run a variety of important Election Day activities including setting up the polling place, greeting voters, helping register voters, explaining how to mark up and submit a ballot, and handing out "I Voted" stickers. Student election judges do not run activities that require party affiliation and cannot work past 10:00 PM. Student election judges earn $10-$17 per hour depending on their city or county elections office.

Getting Started

High school students who are are 16 or older and are interested in working as a student election judge at an upcoming election should:

• Connect with their local city or county elections office to apply.
• Email the YMCA Center for Youth Voice Outreach Manager, Brianne Leibham, at brianne.leibham@ymcamn.org for more information.

Election officials who are interested in creating, expanding, or strengthening their student election judge program should check out the Student Election Judge Toolkit. For assistance connecting to local high schools and potential student election judges, reach out to Brianne Leibham at brianne.leibham@ymcamn.org.