Posted on 01/03/2014 11:52:48 AM PST by Vigilanteman
My apologies for the vanity, but I could use some advice from experienced Freepers.
Yesterday, I got notification from our County's election bureau that I was elected to both JUDGE OF ELECTION and MINORITY INSPECTOR of ELECTION in our precinct.
I didn't run for the office, but I have suspicions that a few of my neighbors wrote me in during the November 5 election.
I am curious to know why I am getting notified only now, almost two months later. I'd also like some advice as to what these positions actually do and whether I should decline the lower office as they seem to be to be obvious conflicts of interest. Isn't a MINORITY INSPECTOR and a JUDGE of ELECTION supposed to check and balance each other?
This sort of smacks of the local teacher's union deciding which school board candidates advance from the primary election when 101% of the union hacks turn out, but only 25% of the general public do.
Any cautions would also be appreciated.
In my county you sign up to be an election official and then, based upon need you can be selected by the election commission for any of those “offices”
Minority inspector? That has to be a punchline to a joke.
You cannot be compelled to serve in any capacity for which you did not seek.
“Minority inspector?”
Job title at Affirmative Action office.
In our system there are an Inspector, a Judge and two Clerks. There are two from each party assigned to each district.
From the training manual for New Jersey Poll Workers:
The district board members must elect a judge, who shall be responsible for the completion of all paperwork, and an inspector. The judge and inspector must be from different political parties. If the district board fails to elect either officer on three ballots, the senior member in length of service on the district board becomes the judge and the next most senior member of the opposite political party becomes the inspector.
The remaining members are designated as clerks. While the judge may be responsible for ensuring the completion of all paperwork, all district board members have equal authority while performing their duties on election day.
Wouldn’t be good for me to be elected to anything. I could be bribed easily with a box of See’s dark chocolate truffles. ;-)
Fully understand, but as a good citizen (and a tax-free stipend), I’m willing to put in the time.
Hi, I am Judge of Election, and you are correct. You can’t do both jobs! It is a four year term, and you will have to be available each election day, spring and fall. You will be responsible for any problems that may arise, and also for picking up the ballot box before election, and taking the ballot box, and papers back at the end of election night! You can find people willing to take the extra position, until they are placed on the ballot, and permanently voted in. Only the majority, and minority jobs are voted in, as well as the judge! The two clerks are appointed by either of the inspectors, or the judge! It is not a difficult position. Paperwork is explained in the manual, and can be done throughout the day, until the polls close, and the final tallies can be placed into their correct envelopes!
I don’t think those are elected offices, at least not in my area. They are selected by the party honchos, and if you are one of the few registered Republicans in a Dem area, the chances that they will try to recruit you for those jobs are pretty good.
They have always been elected positions in this area (central PA). All except the clerk positions.
That information in that reply is from my wife by the way. I personally am not the Judge of Election. I just go to the polls, show my ID like everyone else, and vote. :)
If it came as an email, and there was an attachment...DON’T OPEN IT.
Thank you. You confirmed what I thought. The lady from the County Election Bureau also called. I accepted the Judge’s job (it pays $120 for a very long day but you must provide your own food). It will probably be good experience. We have about 1500 registered voters in our precinct.
It was a postal letter from the County Election Bureau, JFYI. According to the nice lady who called, a lot of these jobs go begging so even if you ask a few of your neighbors to write you in, there is a fair chance you can get elected.
In York County, PA, the Judge of Elections is the law in the polling place...determines if “poll pigeons” are too close, if voters or others are trying to influece other voters, etc.
The pay is decent, but not spectacular. I think it is about $150.00 per election but that is for a very long day...thirteen hours of polls actually open plus duties before and after hours. IIRC the Judge of Elections’ pay is higher than the other paid/elected poll workers. Might be $200.00.
“It was a postal letter...”
Here’s an email I JUST received (with an attachment, of course):
Hereby you are notified that you are expected
in St. Louis Court for the hearing of your case in January 17, 2014.
Enclosed please find the copy of the court notice for the case mentioned above.
Attendance compulsory.
Yours very truly,
ROBERTS Irwin
Clerk of court.
I use to be the Judge of Elections in my prescient. It was in the county next to yours. I refer to it as Agony County. My dad wrote me in one year and I was elected with one vote. Go for the Judge position. You oversee everything and deliver the votes to the County. There is a majority and minority clerk position also. You get to meet a lot of people who live in your community.
Certainly a good way to gain the “name recognition” needed for a run for local elective office like Township Supervisor or Borough Council.
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