Polling Places are staffed with an equal number of Democrats and Republican election judges/poll workers (some positions may be filled by voters not affiliated with either party, and in some cases by persons at least 17 years old but too young to register to vote) There are three types of judges, whose duties are as follows:

Chief Judge: In conjunction with their partner perform the following duties:

• Supervise all operations of the polling place to ensure each voter’s right to cast a ballot in accordance with Maryland law
• Maintain order in polling place
• Ensure that all election laws are observed
• Process all necessary documentation
• Pick up needed supplies the weekend before the election
• Attend training (5 hours for Chiefs)
• Schedule and conduct a meeting of the entire Election Day polling place team the Monday evening before the election
• Oversee the set up of the polling place on Monday evening (some items can be set up in advance)
• Arrive at the polling place at 6:00 am on Election Day
• Supervise and follow all required procedures for opening the polling place (this includes a minimum amount of technical expertise)
• Possess an understanding of all positions and their requirements, in order to fill-in during the day for others on break
• Assist voters with problems
• Assist voters with special needs
• Supervise and follow all required procedures for closing the polling place
• Run and post all required reports
• Ensure that all required documentation for electronic voting and paper voting is complete
• Assist in packing supplies
• Ensure that all critical materials are returned to the Board of Elections on Election Night (the return is normally done by Closer Judges
• Release members of the team after all duties are complete
• Return materials to the Board on Wednesday (alternate with counterpart)

Voting Operations Judge: Perform the following duties, as assigned and directed by the Chief Judge:

• Attend training (3 hours)
• Attend the team meeting on Monday evening before election
• Arrive at the polling place at 6:00 am on Election Day
• Assist with overall operations of the polling place as directed by the Chief Judge
• Assist with the opening and closing of the polling place as needed
• Serve voters casting a Provisional Ballot by:

Controlling Provisional Ballots and related materials

Assisting all provisional voters

Preparing all Provisional Voting documentation

• Check in voters by:

Set up the Electronic Poll Books

Greeting Voters

Use the Electronic Poll Books to qualify voters to use the electronic voting units, printing Voter Authority Cards and encoding the Voter Access Cards

Ensure that each voter signs the required documentation

• Assist voters in the voting process by:

Managing voters in line

Assisting voters with special needs

Escorting voters to the voting unit for security reasons

Closer Judge (Assistant Chief): Perform the following duties, as assigned and directed by the Chief Judge:

• Attend training (2 hours)
• Attend the team meeting on Monday evening before election
• Arrive at the polling place at 6:30 PM on Election Day
• Assist with overall operations of the polling place as directed by the Chief Judge
• Under the supervision of the Chief Judge, close down the voting units after the polls close, prepare and post required reports, where appropriate, transmit results to the Board of Elections via telephone modem. Help lift units on storage rack and lock down.
• At the direction of the Chief Judge, return critical materials to the Board of Elections on Election night (requires two judges registered with different parties riding in one car).