As the 2024 presidential and local elections approach, Baltimore needs more election judges to staff voting precincts around the city Nov. 5.

Voters will select Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee. Incumbent Brandon Scott won this year’s Democratic mayoral primary, while several City Council candidates secured narrow wins, setting them up for success in the general election. About 2,100 election judges are still needed to facilitate incoming results, which are expected to be finalized in seven weeks.

Armstead Jones, director of the Baltimore City Board of Elections, has put a call out to constituents to engage in the electoral process by working at polling stations — especially after voter turnout was low across the city and state in May’s primaries.

“The city is in great need of more election judges. It’s one of the most important jobs in our democracy,” Jones said, adding that nearly 400 workers have been trained so far. The positions pay $50 for training and $250 on Election Day, while chief judges make at least $325.

He spoke to The Baltimore Banner about eligibility and requirements, logistics and poll worker safety in contentious elections.

The Banner: What does an election judge do?

Jones: An election judge plays a major part in running the precinct. We’ll have 187 precincts this year. Basically, they are responsible for operating polling locations. We need people to set up voting booths, machines and signage. They check in voters by reviewing IDs and making sure they are registered. They are there to greet and assist voters in the process before giving instruction on how to use the voting machines. Polls usually close at 8 p.m. So, at the end of the night, the two chief judges at each precinct make sure that all ballots are cast and voting materials are returned to election headquarters.

The Banner: What are the requirements to be an election judge in Baltimore City?

Jones: The age requirement is 16 years old. We want to usher in young people to get them involved in the electoral process, but we want students in good academic standing. For more experienced judges who have previously worked at least three elections, we like to bring them back for early voting. You have to be registered to vote in the state of Maryland and be a U.S. citizen. We ask applicants to declare their party affiliation, so election judge positions are balanced between parties. We want to know things like if you’re able to lift at least 25 pounds, if you’re bilingual and if you can work a 14- to 16-hour day. Election Day is a long one, and we want people to know it. And all staffers must complete the four-hour trainings we have between now and the end of October.

If someone is interested in becoming an election judge, they can fill out the online application at https://boe.baltimorecity.gov/boe-election-judges.

The Banner: What measures are in place to ensure the safety of election judges?

Jones: We want voters to feel confident casting their ballots, and election judges maintain the atmosphere to make that possible. We make sure that election judges are trained to handle conflicts or disputes in a calm and impartial manner. Each polling place has an emergency evacuation protocol, in case of a fire or other emergencies. And judges can directly contact us at the Baltimore City Board of Elections for any security issues. We often have police present at polling stations to ensure safety of voters and election judges.

The Banner: You’ve worked for Baltimore City’s Board of Elections for 50 years in various capacities. What’s kept you involved all that time?

Jones: I basically started very young, either 18 or 21, as an election judge. It’s been so long I don’t really remember. But I started working, in those early young adult years, and in my home precinct in Kenilworth Park — back then polling site was Woodbourne Junior High School. I’ve always really enjoyed the work because it was basically, you know, interacting with friends, neighbors, church members in the neighborhood, in a way that was actionable. Then, as I got older, some of those same community folks encouraged me to work for the Board [of Elections] full time. I did that for several terms, before becoming a full board member, vice president, president and now director.

But it’s very important to have ... [people] to do this to be an election judge. I mean, it’s not a year-round job; it’s an opportunity to help support the electoral process and offer proper operability for all voters. These are the folks on the ground that make sure all voters are being treated with utmost respect when coming out to exercise their right to vote. It could not happen without them.

Editor’s note: This article is part of U.S. Democracy Day, a nationwide collaborative on Sept. 15, the International Day of Democracy, in which news organizations cover how democracy works and the threats it faces. To learn more, visit usdemocracyday.org.