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What are the qualifications for an election judge?
Each election judge must be registered to vote in Colorado and at least eighteen years of age. Election judges shall be appointed without regard to party affiliation.
Election judges are not required to be eligible electors of the special district they are serving.
C.R.S. Section 1-13.5-401(1)
Judges are mailed a certificate of appointment by the DEO no later than 15 days prior to the election date. In that mailing is an acceptance of appointment form that must be returned by the appointee within 7 days from the day the DEO’s certificate and form were sent. Failure to respond in a timely manner may result in a vacancy.
C.R.S. Section 1-13.5-401, 403, 404
Before votes are taken, the election judges take an oath.
C.R.S. Section 1-13.5-407
Certification of election judges: SD-5
Election judge acceptance of appointment: SD-52
Election judge oath: SD-54
What would disqualify someone from serving as an election judge?
Neither a current candidate for director nor any immediate family member to the 2nd degree, of such candidate is eligible to serve as an election judge.
C.R.S. Section 1-13.5-401(1)(b)
How many judges are required for a special district election?
At least two (2) are required. But three (3) are recommended for polling place elections to allow for breaks due to the logistics of how people vote.
The governing body, or the designated election official, if authorized pursuant to section 1-13.5-401(2), shall appoint at least two election judges for each local government election. The appointing authority may also appoint any additional judges as deemed necessary, and may appoint counting judges.
C.R.S. Section 1-13.5-402
The Division is unaware of a statutory provision for special districts allowing or prohibiting election judges to work in shifts lasting less than the entire voting day on election day. Anecdotally, however, this practice may be common. C.R.S. Section 1-6-111(8) in the Uniform Election Code does allude to a provision to do so. We encourage a district considering shifts for its election judges to seek legal counsel.
What is the compensation for election judges?
The election judges at any local government election shall receive reasonable compensation for their services as election judges on election day and additional reasonable compensation for attending an instruction class required in section 1-13.5-409, as determined by the governing body of the local government or designated election official if authorized by the governing body to make a reasonable determination.
Note: In budgeting election costs, the governing body should consider that the election judges often serve12 hour days, if not longer. DLG recommends contacting the local county clerk & recorder for wage comparison.
C.R.S. Section 1-6-115
Election judge pay sheet: SD-53