Working on Election Day
There are two positions available to college students who are interested in serving in our suburban Cook County polling places during the November 6, 2012 Presidential Election:
You can apply online through the link below, but please review the following job descriptions before applying so you choose the position that works best for you. (If applying as an Equipment Manager, you will need to identify yourself as a college student.)
Online Application
Equipment Managers
Equipment Managers serve as Election Judges on Election Day, but are also responsible for setting up and maintaining the voting equipment on Election Day, and then transmitting results at the end of the night. For their service they receive $300 for the first election and $350 for each election after that.
All eligible Equipment Managers must:
- Be a registered voter of Cook County OR a college student with a 3.0 GPA or higher
- Be a US citizen
- Serve in a suburban Cook County polling place
- Have access to a car and a cell phone on Election Day
- Complete an online training course
- Complete two hands-on training classes and pass an open book test at the end of each class (Each class lasts about 3.5 hours)
- Set up the voting equipment (with assistance) the night before the election
- Serve from 5 a.m. until the results are transmitted at the end of the night and you have delivered materials from your polling place to a nearby receiving station
Election Judges
Election Judges are responsible for supervising the conduct inside the polling places and helping voters.
Election judges can receive up to $170 every election. This includes completing the training process, serving on Election Day and assisting with the set up the night before the election
Election judges must also:
- Be a registered voter of Cook County OR a college student with a 3.0 GPA or higher
- Be a US citizen
- Serve in a suburban polling place
- Complete one hands-on training class (Each class lasts about 3 hours) and pass an open book test at the end of the class
- Assist voters and work together with 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
If you have further questions, contact Mark Mesle at (312) 603-0988 or Mark.Mesle@cookcountyil.gov.
Voter Registration
If you are a college student who is eager to engage in a voter registration drive, the Cook County Clerk's office is eager to help. You can register your friends and classmates by serving as a deputy registrar. Students who participate as deputy registrars must live in Cook County, be a registered voter and complete a brief training.
We can also provide mail-in registration forms to distribute as well as provide assistance in setting up permanent voter registration locations on campus.
For more information, call (312) 603-0988.