ADMINISTRATION - Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk
Title
ELECTION JUDGE APPOINTMENTS FOR THE 2020 ELECTIONS
Background
Pursuant to Minnesota election law and City Charter, Council must appoint election judges, set their salary, and schedule a special meeting to canvass the August 11, 2020, Primary election results. Staff is also requesting authority to appoint election judges during the time preceding the election.
To date staff has recruited 186 individuals to serve as election judges for both the 2020 Primary and General elections. While most election judges are scheduled to work full shifts we are offering some partial shifts to help meet voter demand during peak times such as early morning and early evening. Election judges are required to view online training every two years in order to serve which this year also includes new procedures in response to COVID-19. Staff is working to recruit additional judges as we expect high voter turnout for both elections but is balancing those efforts with the increased promotion by the state, county, and city to vote early either by mail or in person at Mary Ann Young Center. For those choosing to vote in person voters will see changes in the polling place that include plastic partitions, masks for judges and voters should they choose to wear one, single-use pens and cleaning procedures in accordance with CDC guidelines.
State Statute and City Charter require that election judges be appointed by the Council at least 25 days prior to the election. Staff is requesting that Council authorize the City Clerk to make appointments and substitutions as necessary should the need arise in the 25 days prior to the election. Election law allows for emergency appointments on Election Day.
Staff is proposing no increase to the 2020 election judge hourly salaries as outlined below.
• Head/Technology Judges- $12.00/hr
• Precinct Judges/Student Judges -$11.00/hr
Council is required to canvass the results of the Primary election, the earliest of which would be Friday, August 14. The meeting will be brief and at least four Councilmembers must attend and can be scheduled at any time during that day.
Recommendation
a. Adopt the proposed resolution approving the appointment of election judges and authorizing the City Clerk to appoint and assign election judges during the 25 days preceding the election if additions/substitutions are necessary;
b. Approve the hourly salary for election judges at $12.00 per hour for Head/Technology Judges and $11.00 per hour for Precinct/Student Election Judges;
c. Schedule a special meeting to canvass the results of the Primary Election for Friday, August 14, 2020, at a specified time.
Body
WHEREAS, the City Council is required by Minnesota Statutes Section
204B.21, Sec. 2, and Chapter 4, Nominations and Elections, Section 4.05 of the City Charter, to officially approve the appointment of election judges; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby adopts the judges listed on the Judge Board Report, hereto attached, as the official election judges for the 2020 Elections; and
WHEREAS, the City Clerk is hereby authorized to appoint and assign election judges during the 25 days preceding the election if additions or substitutions are necessary in order to fill vacancies and meet party balances.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Blaine that the names listed on the Judge Board Report, hereto attached, are the official Election Judges for the City of Blaine, 2020 Elections.