Update: The Election Judge website has been updated. I, Publius Jr, had asked Rep Mary Franson if the MN Legislature could have a hearing about the sloppiness and slow to update the crucial election related pages at the MN Secretary of State’s Website. She replied that the Minority Party can’t call for a hearing. So I contacted my old high school American Government Teacher (he was first elected when I was senior in high school), Rep Gene Pelowski. I asked him about the Election Judge website and showed him the other article I wrote about the caucusfinder, and he said he had just talked with Secretary Simon. He said he would let him know. About a week later the site had been updated. Both pages have been updated. I did not yet get an acknowledgement email or thanks from the MN Secretary of State’s Office. I don’t expect one either…but it would be nice. ~~ Publius Jr.
It hasn’t been very long since I, Publius Jr, posted the story about the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Caucusfinder website needing to be fixed. Now there is a new cause for concern with the Office’s website directing people who are interested in becoming Election Judges in the State of Minnesota.
Occasionally I’ll get a request from a candidate or even from the Republican Party of Minnesota to do a task such as proofread a website or check for deadlinks.
Well the latter was the task. I was to go to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Website to check to see if the links to the various cities and county elections operations listed on the site were correct.
How hard is it to do data entry at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office?
They must have DEI hires doing the data entry there. Or more likely they haven’t updated the website links since 2022.
Election Judge Application Website
www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/get-involved/become-an-election-judge/#how-to-apply
If you go to the MN SOS’ Election Judge Website you’ll see a number of Cities listed as well as Counties listed. The hypertext links are supposed to go somewhere but as I found out in my beta testing of the links, some go nowhere, or like Bloomington MN they have an Election Judge information page, but you can’t fill out an online application on the page the MN SOS Website sends you to. They do have a listing of what an election judge does make for a salary, and it looks quite low for such an important job. Ramsey County Elections actually pay between $15-$20 per hour depending on your job which is at least $5 more per hour than most of the other Cities and Counties in the State. (Hint; Republicans sign up at Ramsey County Elections to ensure party balance).
Let’s look at the mistakes on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Election Judge Page
Deadlinks and Hidden Application Links
So not to laugh at an incompetent staff at the MN SOS, we will put in the correct link in Brackets like this [correct link].
Apple Valley
Page not Found
[www.ci.apple-valley.mn.us/168/Elections-Voting] On the page the first link on the bottom of the page will take you to an applications app.
Bloomington
Could not find a link to apply, though on the Election Judge page that the MNSOS website is linked to there is a lot of information about being an election judge, but no application link. The only way perhaps is contacting the City Clerk at this number 952-563-8729, and email at cityclerk@BloomingtonMN.gov
Columbia Heights
The link is good but, the application link is 2/3 down the page under “How to Apply.”
Here’s the link [www.columbiaheightsmn.gov/government/elections_and_voting/election_judge_interest_form.php]
Crystal
Deadlink
[cdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_10879634/File/Resident/Voting/EJApp.pdf] If you have questions contact the Deputy City Clerk at Chee.Yang@crystalmn.gov, 763-531-1131
Duluth
Page Not Found
[duluthmn.gov/city-clerk/elections-voter-services/be-an-election-judge]
How hard is it to do data entry at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office?
East Bethel
Has an Application PDF but not one you can change online. You have to download it fill it out and then send it into the City Clerk via fax, regular mail, or email.
Elk River
Has a good link but then to apply it goes to their job opportunity website.
Fridley
They have a changeable PDF Form, but it’s dated from 2022. What have they been doing for 2 years? [www.fridleymn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2245/Election-Judge-Application]
Inver Grove Heights
The link is good but you have to go the Jobs & Volunteering page to sign up [www.ighmn.gov/522/Jobs-Volunteering] then click “Apply”
Lakeville
Page not Found
[www.lakevillemn.gov/1217/Become-an-Election-Judge]
Minnetonka
They have a good link but this is what they say about applying to be an Election Judge
“We are not accepting applications for election judges at this time.”
We sent them an inquiry whether that’s just for the Presidential Primary or whether it’s for the entire year. We also asked them if they have Major Party Balance at their Polling Locations.
UPDATE:
The City Clerk of Minnetonka replied and said the notation above on their website refers to the Presidential Primary only. They will need more election judges for the August Primary and for the General Election in November. The City Clerk replied to the second question saying they do have a Major Party Balance at the 8 Polling locations they have.
Moorhead
The link goes to the general voting page. You can see on the left drop down menu it should have went to the Election Judge Page
[www.cityofmoorhead.com/government/elections-and-voting/election-judge-application]
New Brighton
This should really be in the Ramsey County Elections website. When you go to this link it will direct you to click on the Ramsey County Elections website. One has to wonder if anyone in the MN SOS knows this?
Rochester
They have a Presidential Primary Specific Application. One has to wonder if it is for beyond the Primary.
Rosemount
Unsecure link which set off an alarm on my computer
[www.rosemountmn.gov/302/Election-Judges] Had to use Brave Search Engine to find the government page for Rosemount.
St Louis Park
They have a Survey Monkey sign up. This is a bit improper as Survey Monkey might use the information from those that sign up to be Election Judges to sell their names like a lot of platforms do.
How hard is it to do data entry at the St Louis Park City Clerk’s Office?
Houston County
Has a document you can download that you would have to print out and return in person. It’s not a PDF.
Olmsted County
They have a good link but they make the set up a bit confusing as they have a Job for Election Assistant [www.governmentjobs.com/careers/olmsted/jobs/3428770/election-assistant?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs]. Then below that there’s a subject heading “How Can I Become an Election Judge?” Then there is a link to be an Election Judge in Rochester, then an application on the bottom of the page.
If you’re not in Rochester but live in Olmsted County and want to be an Election Judge just avoid all the confusing nonsense on this page and go to the bottom of it and fill it out.
How hard is it to do data entry at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office?
Need Statewide Standards on Election Judge Applications
It would be great if the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office set a standard in which every County Elections Office or the City Clerk could have a pick of one or two options that require a changeable PDF, or a paper application one could fill out. From what it looks like there is no oversight from the Minnesota State Legislature.
Just for transparency sake this website isn’t affiliated nor associated with the RPM aka the MNGOP. What is posted here is not authorized by them nor any other Republican Party organization in the State of Minnesota. I do honor the endorsements of the endorsed candidates from their party and post those candidates campaign contact information on our candidates page. ~~ Publius Jr.