This fall, the Cook Country Clerk offices will be looking for young high school student or college students to get more involved in politics by becoming an election judge. Judges of election are the officials who are responsible for the conduct of the election in the precinct polling place. The job is challenging, interesting and personally rewarding.

In the voting site from 5:15a.m. until the voting sites close at 7:00p.m., election judges are responsible for the proper and lawful conduct of the election. Election judges are commissioned as officers of the Circuit Court and must take an oath to uphold the constitutions of the United States and the State of Illinois in the performance of their duties.

To become a qualified judge, students must meet these list of requirements:

• Be a citizen of the United States and entitled to vote at the next election or be a high school junior/senior in good standing or a student enrolled in a Lake County public, community college or private secondary school.
• Be of good repute and character.
• Be able to speak, read and write the English language.
• Be skilled in the four fundamental rules (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) of arithmetic.
• Be of good understanding and capable to perform his/her duties.
• Be neither a candidate for any office at the election nor an elected precinct committeeman.

If a student meets all these requirements, they can sign up online at www.cookcountyclerk.com. The online application consist of basic information for an individual. Once completed, student then sign up for a time to receive a hands-on training.

In each precinct at least one judge representing each political party must be certified as having satisfactorily completed, within the preceding six months, a training course and examination for judges of election.

Judges of Election are paid $125 for serving all of Election Day, plus $45 if they also have completed training.

“For the City of Chicago is proud to lead the United States in hiring and training high school and college students to serve as judges and many college-age students to provide technical support. In recent elections, more than 4,000 students have helped administer elections in Chicago” , said The Board of Election Commissioners.

Be a proud citizen and be a part of this wonderful experience!

For more information visit: www.cookcountyclerk.com