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

COON RAPIDS, Minn. (June 21, 2026) As Minnesota moves toward a consequential election season that will shape local, county, state, and federal leadership for years to come, the City of Coon Rapids is calling on residents to step behind the scenes of democracy and help administer the voting process itself.

City officials are actively recruiting election judges for the 2026 election cycle, seeking both adult community members and high school students willing to serve at polling places during this year's primary and general elections. The positions, while temporary, play an essential role in ensuring elections are conducted fairly, accurately, securely, and in accordance with Minnesota law.

The recruitment effort comes as voters prepare to cast ballots in elections that will include federal, state, county, judicial, and municipal offices. In Coon Rapids, local voters will also help determine the future leadership of City Hall, including the office of mayor and City Council seats representing Ward 3 and Ward 5.

The State Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 11, while the State General Election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

For most residents, Election Day lasts only a few minutes. For election judges, however, it is often a full day of public service that begins before sunrise and continues well after polls close. Election judges are responsible for opening polling locations, setting up voting equipment, assisting with voter registration, checking in voters, issuing ballots, explaining voting procedures, processing election materials, and helping ensure every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast a ballot.

According to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office, election judges serve as the frontline administrators of the state's election system. Their work helps safeguard voter access while maintaining confidence in the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.

Without a sufficient number of trained election judges, polling locations cannot operate efficiently, voter wait times can increase, and election administrators face greater challenges in delivering the smooth voting experience that Minnesota voters have come to expect. The state's consistently high voter participation rates depend not only on engaged citizens but also on thousands of trained election workers who help carry out the mechanics of democracy on Election Day.

To qualify as an adult election judge, applicants must be eligible to vote in Minnesota, be a United States citizen, have resided in the state for at least 20 days before the election, and be able to read, write, and speak English. State law also imposes conflict-of-interest safeguards designed to protect the impartial administration of elections.

Individuals may not serve as election judges in a precinct where a close relative appears on the ballot or is serving as an election judge. Minnesota law defines those relationships to include spouses, parents, children, stepchildren, siblings, stepparents, and stepsiblings. Likewise, individuals who reside with a candidate whose name appears on the ballot are prohibited from serving in that candidate's precinct.

Beyond recruiting adult residents, the City of Coon Rapids is also encouraging younger community members to participate through Minnesota's Student Election Judge Program, which provides students with a rare opportunity to experience public service firsthand while learning how elections are administered.

Students between the ages of 16 and 18 may apply to serve as student trainee election judges. Participants gain practical experience in nearly every aspect of polling place operations, including setting up voting equipment, assisting voters, processing registrations, directing traffic within polling locations, and helping election officials maintain orderly voting procedures throughout the day.

To qualify, students must be United States citizens enrolled in a Minnesota public, private, charter, or home-school program and remain in good academic standing. They must also obtain written permission from both a parent or legal guardian and their school administration in order to be excused from classes on Election Day.

Student election judges perform many of the same responsibilities as adult judges. State law limits them only from performing duties that require major political party affiliation, and they may not work past 10 p.m.

For many young participants, the experience serves as an introduction to civic engagement that extends far beyond a classroom lesson. Student judges witness firsthand how voter registrations are processed, how ballots are distributed, how election equipment operates, and how safeguards are implemented to ensure that every eligible voter can cast a ballot securely and accurately.

All election judges selected by the city must complete mandatory certification training before serving. The City of Coon Rapids provides the required training online, and participants are compensated for the time spent completing the coursework.

Student election judges are paid $12 per hour for both training and Election Day service. Adult election judges also receive compensation for their work and training, with assignments varying based on polling location needs and election responsibilities.

Minnesota law provides additional protections for election judges who are employed outside the election system. Employers are required to grant employees time off to serve as election judges without reducing their net pay, provided workers submit at least 20 days' written notice and furnish the required appointment and compensation documentation.

The legal protection reflects the state's longstanding recognition that successful elections depend heavily on citizen participation. While candidates and campaigns often attract the public spotlight, election judges perform the essential work that allows the democratic process to function at the local level.

Residents interested in serving as an election judge or student election judge can learn more about eligibility requirements, compensation, training, student participation guidelines, and application procedures through the City of Coon Rapids election judge program at:

https://coonrapidsmn.gov/177/Serve-as-an-Election-Judge

As communities across Minnesota prepare for the August primary and November general election, Coon Rapids officials hope more residents will consider taking an active role in supporting the electoral process. For those willing to serve, election judging offers an opportunity not only to participate in democracy but to help ensure that every voter who walks through the doors of a polling place can do the same.

2026 Election Dates

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

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

Local Offices on the Ballot in Coon Rapids

• Mayor

• City Council Ward 3

• City Council Ward 5

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