Earn $450 as a Chicago Election Coordinator
The next elections are:
March 17, 2020 Primary Election and November 3, 2020 General Election
About Election Coordinators and Judges
There is a shortage of Election Judges and Election Coordinators for the upcoming election(s). The shortage is most acute in many North side wards including the 42nd, 43rd-50th, 41st, 1st, 36th and 38th. There is no shortage on the South side below Pershing Road (3900S).
I have served as an Election Coordinator the past six elections. I detail my experience below. I spent a total of about 28 hours training, studying and working for the first election. You are required to take two four hour classes annually plus and online class before the first election of the year. Consider taking a vacation day, help out and get paid $450. The required training is available days, evenings and weekends. Last election it was at Block37. More info here.
Election Coordinator pay is $450
In all elections I received my pay a few weeks after the election via check. Election Judges have less responsibility and are paid between $140 (plus $50 if you complete the training) to +$200 for additional duties. Register to serve here.
Is it worth it?
As an Election Coordinator I’m on my feet probably half the time most of the election (5AM-9PM) fixing broken equipment, calling for supplies, dealing with belligerent voters who try to vote in Chicago when they live in other cities and states, answering questions, moving people around, procuring food etc. On an hourly basis the pay is very low. I personally view it as doing my civic duty.
Why not take a paid day off (if you’re lucky enough to have that employee benefit), do your civic duty and earn some extra money?
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Registration and request your ward and precinct
Registration is online and you can request (based on availability) to serve not only in your ward but also in your precinct. Find your ward and precinct here (you have to be a registered voter for this database to work). Once you complete the training you can call to request your ward and precinct 312-269-0877.
In order to serve you must be a registered voter, a resident of Chicago and meet other qualifications (links below) to serve as a judge or coordinator. Register to vote here.
APPLY HERE The assignment is for two Elections. The Board of Elections is asking applicants to commit to work the next two elections on March 17, 2020 Primary Election and November 3, 2020 General Election. If you can only work one call and see what they say. They will probably take you.
Election Coordinator (EC) Description
The Chicago Board of Elections is now accepting Election Coordinator (EC) applications for the March 17, 2020 Primary Election and November 3, 2020 General Election.
The EC is responsible for running the set-up, operation, and closing of the precinct on Election Day. The EC is the Board representative in the polling place, having been extensively trained in all Election Day procedures as well as equipment set-up, operation, and troubleshooting, including Election Day Registration. Each EC is assigned to one of the 2,069 precincts throughout the City of Chicago, to work with the appointed Election Judges in that precinct.
The EC also can be assigned as a stand-by, and may be dispatched in the event an assigned EC is unable to work on Election Day.
Election Judges and Coordinators have to arrive at 5AM and stay until all the paperwork is done and the voting site is taken down. We usually are out by 9PM.
Qualifications
Must be a United States citizen and either a registered voter in Cook County, Illinois or a college student currently enrolled in a college or university in Cook County, Illinois;
– Have effective oral and written English language and comprehension skills;
– Must have expertise in the operation, maintenance and proper usage of a wide range of computer technologies and will be required to adapt this expertise to election processes;
– Must have a cell phone available for making and receiving calls and text messages on Election Day;
– Must not be a committeeman, precinct captain, candidate, nor work for them or share the same household with them;
– Must not be a registered sex offender anywhere in the United States and must not have committed a crime that would require registration as a sex offender in the United States;
– Complete all required training courses and successfully pass the examination after each class.
Responsibilities
– Make contact with the Election Judges in your assigned precinct before Election Day and assist them in checking the voting equipment the Monday before Election Day;
– Ensure that the polling place is accessible to voters with disabilities by following an accessibility guideline/check-off list.
– Assist the Election Judges with various aspects of the Election Day processes and procedures including but not limited to setting up voting equipment, setting up voting booths, powering up the voting equipment, etc.;
– Troubleshoot equipment problems and make minor repairs, such as changing the paper tape rolls;
– Be available to make and receive calls and text messages between the polling place and Election Central in case of procedural questions, equipment problems or serious malfunctions using your cell phone on Election Day;
– Assist Election Judges with completing polling place closing paperwork;
– Serve all precincts within a polling place; and,
– Follow Board instructions to complete all required tasks. APPLY HERE
Cheryl says
Do you need a car to pick up supplies?
Carol says
You do not need to pickup anything. The Board of Elections drops off a large metal box the day before the election that contains all the materials to set up your polling place.