The Cook County Clerk’s office is recruiting college students to serve in suburban polling places for the March 19, 2024 Presidential Primary Election. It is a unique opportunity to provide a vital service for the community, get a behind-the-scenes look at the election process, and get paid all at the same time.
There are two positions available to students who are interested in participating: Election Judge or Polling Place Technician. Election Judges and Polling Place Technicians both assist voters and ensure the polling place is running smoothly. Polling Place Technicians are also responsible for setting up and maintaining the voting equipment. Due to the additional responsibility, Polling Place Technicians receive more training and higher pay.
(Be sure to identify yourself as a college student when applying)
Both positions require that students are:
- A U.S. citizen
- Either a registered voter of Cook County OR a college student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Bilingual judges:
- Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, Tagalog, Korean, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic, Gujarati, Urdu - always needed
- Election Judge Requirements
-
- Complete a hands-on training class
- Set up the polling place with your fellow judges before Election Day.
- Voters are served from the time the polls open at 6 a.m. until they close at 7 p.m. However, election judges work together with their fellow judges from 5 a.m. on Election Day until the results are transmitted and the equipment has been packed up at the end of the night.
- Election Judge FAQs
- Polling Place Technician Requirements
-
- Have access to a car and a cell phone on Election Day. Complete a three-part training class and pass an open book test after each section.
- Be willing to work outside your home area in suburban Cook County. (NOTE: PPTs will be placed as close to home as possible but in some cases may need to travel)
- Set up the voting equipment (with assistance) the night before the election.
- Assist voters and manage equipment from 5 a.m. until the results are transmitted and the equipment has been packed up at the end of the night. Deliver materials from your precinct to a nearby receiving station.
- Polling Place Technician FAQs
Letter for your teachers
If you have class on Election Day it is up to individual teachers to decide whether to excuse you as some classes are difficult to make up. However, the Illinois Election Code (10 ILCS 5/14-1(c)) does state that "students appointed as election judges ... shall not be counted as absent from school on the day they serve as judges." We can provide you with a letter confirming your participation and the importance of your Election Day role.
For more information, call 312.603.0961 or email us at [email protected].
