Baltimore County election judges are scrambling to find about 200 Democratic polling judges by November?s general election ? an odd predicament, they said, for a county where Democrats outnumber Republicans twofold.
The situation is an improvement to the 500-judge shortage immediately after the primaries, said Katie Brown, deputy director of the county?s Board of Elections. The county successfully recruited enough Republican chief judges but are reaching out to the state?s bar association and universities to find last-minute Democratic volunteers, she said.
“We?ve never been in need before,” she said. The board needs about 3,500 judges total to staff each of the county?s 218 precincts with six to eight judges, depending on the precinct?s size, Brown said.
She and longtime judges speculated reasons for this year?s shortage. They said retired and elderly judges may be wary of the state?s new electronic voting machines. Current judges say the $100 pay isn?t enough to validate three-hour training sessions and long days at the polls.
Pikesville resident Mical Carton said she volunteered during the 2004 election.
“I felt if I got involved at least my little part had been done right,” Carton said. “It?s a dreadfully long day for not a lot of pay but it?s a very interesting experience.”
Chief judge Dave Greene of Lutherville said he agrees the day is long for many seniors. He said he recommended the county split the day into two shifts. After the primaries, he sent a list of recommendations to Nikki Trella, the state Board of Election?s reform director, advising her many judges skim reading materials or don?t read them at all.
He said officials give judges little guidance on how to divvy tasks on election day and said the training session didn?t always focus on priorities, like setting up new electronic poll books . But he said he was optimistic that the county would find enough judges in time.
Brown said the county is addressing the issues with mandatory pre-election retraining sessions for all chief judges before the primary.
