Howard County has enough election judges to staff the polls less than two weeks before the election, but officials still are trying to increase the ranks of alternates.
“Likely we will have cancellations between now and the election,” said Betty Nordaas, director of the Board of Elections.
The county has 1,009 judges enlisted and roughly 50 alternates. But, officials want 25 or 30 more judges on standby, Nordaas said.
Howard County election judges get paid more than surrounding jurisdictions, receiving $220 for chief judges and $165 for other judges for the day.
But, Howard judges do it more as a community service, Nordaas said.
“Our judges just really want to be a part of the process,” she said. “Most have been doing it for a long time.”
Many jurisdictions, such as Montgomery County and Baltimore City, are lagging behind in filling the ranks of election judges, said James Gimpel, a University of Maryland government and politics professor.
“I think it has increasingly become a problem,” he said.
Areas with more retirees or elderly residents and more rural areas tend to have a better time recruiting judges, Gimpel said.
“In smaller towns and remote locations, there is a stronger sense of community spirit and volunteerism,” he said.
The Carroll County Board of Elections secured the last elections judges it needed Thursday, said Patricia Matsko, elections director.
The county hired 420 judges and is keeping a list of backup judges.
Anne Arundel and Harford counties also have filled the judges spots, but with about 47 alternates, Harford officials are still recruiting backups.
“We are in great shape,” said Kim Atkins, Harford?s acting election director, adding that they prefer about 100 alternates on hand.
Baltimore County is short about 50 Democratic judges and 120 Republican judges, but officials expect to reach their goal of 3,368 before the election, said elections administrator Jacqueline McDaniel.
Examiner Staff Writer Kelsey Volkmann contributed to this report.
