MINNEAPOLIMEDIA COMMUNITY NEWS | Coon Rapids Seeks Election Judges for 2026 Elections as Minnesota Prepares for Primary and General Election Season

COON RAPIDS, MN (June 13, 2026) As Minnesota begins preparations for the 2026 election cycle, the City of Coon Rapids is seeking residents willing to serve as election judges during both the August primary and November general elections, part of a statewide effort to staff polling locations and ensure the orderly administration of voting.

City officials announced this week that applications are now being accepted for election judges who will work during the State Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, and the State General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

The city is also encouraging high school students ages 16 to 18 to apply through Minnesota's Student Election Judge Program, which allows qualified students to participate directly in the election process while gaining firsthand experience in civic engagement and public service.

Election judges serve as the frontline workers of Minnesota's election system. They help open and close polling places, verify voter eligibility, process voter registrations, issue ballots, operate voting equipment, assist voters with disabilities, and ensure election procedures are carried out in accordance with state law.

While voters often spend only a few minutes inside a polling place, election judges may spend more than a dozen hours managing the flow of Election Day operations.

According to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office, election judges are essential to maintaining election integrity and accessibility. Across Minnesota, thousands of election judges are recruited and trained before each major election to help administer one of the nation's highest-turnout voting systems.

In Coon Rapids, election judges are paid $12 per hour and are required to complete a mandatory two-hour training session prior to Election Day. The training is also compensated at the city's hourly rate.

"The work of election judges often happens quietly and behind the scenes," election administrators frequently note, "but the role is one of the most important functions in local democracy."

To qualify as an adult election judge in Coon Rapids, applicants must be eligible to vote in Minnesota, be able to read, write, and speak English, and complete the city's application and appointment process. Election judges are formally appointed by the Coon Rapids City Council upon recommendation of the City Clerk.

Minnesota law also requires political party balance among election judges assigned to a precinct. No more than one-half of the judges serving in a precinct may be affiliated with the same major political party. The requirement is designed to promote public confidence and bipartisan oversight of election administration.

Additional restrictions are intended to avoid conflicts of interest. Individuals may not serve in a precinct where certain close relatives are serving as election judges, nor may they serve in a precinct if an immediate family member appears on the ballot as a candidate.

For students, eligibility requirements differ slightly.

Student Election Judges must be between 16 and 18 years old, reside in Anoka County or an adjoining county, maintain good academic standing, and obtain permission from both a parent or legal guardian and their school. Student judges serve as trainees and perform many of the same duties as adult election judges, although Minnesota law limits certain responsibilities that require political party designation.

Student judges are also prohibited from working beyond 10 p.m. on Election Day under state guidelines.

The student program has become an increasingly important recruitment tool for election administrators throughout Minnesota. In recent years, local governments across the state have relied on student judges to help address staffing shortages while introducing young people to public service and civic participation.

State law also provides employment protections for individuals serving as election judges.

Under Minnesota Statute 204B.195, employees are entitled to take time away from their regular jobs to serve as election judges without fear of discharge, discipline, or loss of employment status. To receive that protection, workers must provide their employer with at least 20 days' written notice before Election Day and submit certification from the local election authority confirming their service schedule.

Election judges have long served as one of the most visible examples of citizen participation in local government. Although elections are administered by city clerks and county election officials, much of the work that voters experience on Election Day is performed by trained residents serving in these temporary roles.

As Minnesota prepares for another statewide election season, Coon Rapids officials are encouraging residents of all ages who are interested in public service to consider participating.

Applications are available through the City of Coon Rapids Clerk's Office.

Residents with questions may contact the Coon Rapids City Clerk's Office at 763-767-6493.

Election Dates

• State Primary Election: Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026

• State General Election: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026

How to Apply

Completed Election Judge applications may be submitted electronically to the City Clerk or mailed to:

City of Coon Rapids
Attn: City Clerk's Office
11155 Robinson Drive
Coon Rapids, MN 55433

Additional information and application materials are available through the City of Coon Rapids Election Judge program webpage.

Sources: City of Coon Rapids; Minnesota Secretary of State; Minnesota Statutes Chapter 204B.

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