Download Training Resources
ELECTION JUDGE TRAINING VIDEO LINKS
These videos were recorded and produced with the assistance of other counties in Montana. Although all counties follow polling place laws, each county differs slightly in their process/procedures.
Please contact the Election Office with any questions.
ExpressVote Set-up and Break-down
Playlist of All Training Videos
WHAT IS AN ELECTION JUDGE/ELECTION WORKER?
An Election Judge is a registered voter that works on Election Day to support a Flathead County polling locations. They perform a variety of tasks to ensure the integrity of the voting process and uphold election laws. Judges only work during elections that have a polling location.
An Election Worker is a registered voter that works in one of many roles both on Election Day and the days or weeks leading up to the election. Our various boards work within the office or out at the Flathead County Fairgrounds and work throughout a variety of elections!
These positions are registered voters from Flathead County that are paid for their training and hard work on Election Day. All Election Judges/Workers are educated in polling place and election procedures and regulations to ensure safe, secure, and free elections for Flathead County!
Click here to submit an online application Or
Click here for the downloadable Election Judge Form or the Election Worker Application.
Please return completed forms to the Flathead County Election Office by mail or email.
wHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS?
For all positions:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must be registered to vote in Flathead County
For Election Judges only:
- Attend required one 3.5-hour training class 2026 Training Dates TBA
- Cannot be a candidate or relative of a candidate running in the precinct you work.
- This differs for State and Federal offices and does not apply to precinct committee people.
What does an election judge do?
There are a total of 11 polling places used during Federal Primary and General elections that service 56 precincts across Flathead County. On average, teams of four - one Chief Judge and three Election Judges - are trained, organized, and assigned to every precinct. Over 200 election judges are needed in order to adequately conduct polling place elections in Flathead County.
Pursuant to MCA 13-4-101, all election judges are training before the primary election in even-numbered years. Training for the 2024-2025 Election Years has been completed. The next training sessions will be announced in the beginning of 2026. Thank you to all that served!
Election Judges are trained to execute the following tasks required for polling locations:
- Greeting & checking in voters
- Directing voters to their correct polling place, if they have moved
- Setting up & taking down polling place
- Issuing proper ballots to qualified voters and ensure that each qualified voter is permitted to only vote once
- Ensuring the secrecy of every voted ballot
- Balancing of poll boll issuance and maintaining accurate registers for each precinct
Chief Election Judges are trained and responsible for:
- Pickup & Return of polling place supplies
- Supervising of precinct team
- Ensures proper execution of polling place procedures and state and federal guidelines
- Providing assistance to voters that must vote provisionally
What does an election Worker do?
An Election Worker can work within a variety of roles that all support our elections!
Absentee Board - This team can include up to 30 people that both prepare absentee ballots for the mail out date prior to the election and work to prepare voted absentee ballots for counting closer to election day. The mail prep shifts can span two weeks at a variety of hours and start over a month before the election. The count prep shifts begin the Thursday before the election and continue through Election night.
Drop-Box Attendant - During elections, attendants are needed to maintain a drive-thru ballot drop box either outside of the Flathead County Election office or the Trade Center at the County Fairgrounds on election day. Two people are required to remain with the drop box at all times.
Greeter/Info Desk - Teams work as the front lines for polling places and the election office on election day. They help assist voters in determining their precinct, correct polling location, and more using tablets or laptops provided by the Flathead County Election office to support the registration process. The shifts are typically 6am to 2pm or 1:30pm to 8pm but are subject to changes.
Office Support - This can be either part of the Voter Registration Team, Ballot Issuance, Phone Team, or Signature Verification. These roles require multiple days/weeks availability prior to and on Election Day. Shift times vary on the role but typically entails 8am to 5pm at the minimum and on election day requires 6:30am to 9pm. These roles require experience with both customer service and computers/database management systems. An in-person interview will be required before working.
Resolution Board - Teams of three people work to resolve ballots that need to be reviewed and counted. The available shifts for this role start the Friday before the election, Monday before the election, and work on election day.
ARE THESE PAID POSITIONS?
While we do accept applications from generous Flathead County citizens that do not wish to be paid, Election Judges and Election Workers are paid for both their time in training and for their work on Election Day!
Absentee Board $11/hour
Greeter/Drop Box Attendant $11/hour
Resolution Board $12/hour
Office Support & Poll Runner pay varies on role
Chief Election Judges $12/hour
Election Judges $11/hour
Payment for mileage is reserved solely for Chief Judges and is only applicable for the transportation of election materials to and from the polling place.
Payment for election judge training is a $42 stipend and is paid only when the judge works an election.
Election Judges are required to work from 6 AM to approximately 9:30 PM (dependent on polling place location). Split shifts are available upon request. If possible, please recruit another person to train and split the shift with you!
Election Judges are certified for a two-year term following completion of training and may be asked to assist with other elections during that time. The next training for election judges will be in 2026 prior to the next Federal Primary election.