Politics

Chicago, Suburban Cook County Seeking Poll Workers for November Midterm Election

With the November election approaching, the Chicago Board of Elections and Cook County Clerk’s Office are looking for people to serve as poll workers on Election Day. 

Election judges must be a registered voter or an eligible college or high school student.

“Our democracy needs everyday people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and help make Election Day work,” Clerk Monica Gordon, who’s running unopposed in the November election, said in a statement. “Our poll workers are essential to the success of every election, and their service helps ensure that voters across Cook County can cast their ballots with confidence.”

Election Day is Nov. 3.

Chicago

Election judges are responsible for setting up and opening precinct polling places on Election Day, assisting voters during voting hours and conducting closing procedures after the polls close. Election judges can earn up to $230 for attending training and working on Election Day.

Bilingual election judges who speak Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Polish, Korean or Tagalog are also needed, according to the Chicago Board of Elections. 

More than 4,400 election judges have been assigned as of Monday, with the goal of assigning between 7,000 to 8,000 election judges for Election Day, according to a spokesperson. 

For more information on how to be a poll worker in Chicago, visit the Chicago Board of Elections website. High schoolers interested in being an election judge can find information here.

Suburban Cook County

The Cook County Clerk’s Office is seeking suburban residents to serve as election judges and polling place technicians on Election Day.

While poll workers are needed across the county, there is a particular need in the north and west suburbs, including Barrington, Elk Grove, Hanover, Lemont, Leyden, Lyons, Maine, Northfield, Palatine, Proviso, Schaumburg and Wheeling, according to the clerk’s office.

Election judges help greet and assist voters, check in voters, maintain an orderly polling place and work to ensure Election Day operations run smoothly. Election judges are paid $250.

Polling place technicians work with election judges to check supplies and voting equipment and assist with the setup, operation, maintenance and breakdown of election equipment. Polling place technicians are paid $400.

The office is also seeking bilingual election judges in precincts with high concentrations of Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Tagalog, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Gujarati, Urdu and Arabic speakers who may need assistance at the polls.

Those interested in being an Election Day worker can apply online at the Cook County Clerk’s Office website.

Early Voting Kicks Off Soon

Early voting for Chicago voters is slated to kick off Thursday downtown. Early voting will expand to all 50 wards Oct. 19.

Early voting for suburban voters will begin Oct. 7 at six vote centers. Expanded early voting starts Oct. 19.

Races on the ballot include Illinois governor, U.S. Senate, Illinois attorney general, Illinois comptroller, Illinois treasurer, U.S. House of Representatives, Cook County Board president and more. 

Chicago voters will vote for members of the Chicago Board of Education, in addition to voting on nonbinding referendum questions regarding whether the city should replace its gunshot detection system and whether the city should create a permanent home for festivals and other large events.

Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]

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