1. Developing Students to Be
Public Servants
National Civic Summit - July 2009
Dr. Ruth A. Charles,
Josh Malchow, Eric Wahl
Winona State University, MN;

3. Hanging Chads?

4. 2000 Election - Florida

5. Voter Intent?

8. Poll Workers/Election
Judges
• Resident of state and registered
voter
• Signed up to work
• National average age 72 years
• Voluntary Public Servants

9. Class Project- Election Judge
• My own experience
• 2006- 10 students; 2008- 75 students
• U.S. Election Assistance Commission
grant- “Help America Vote: College
Poll Worker Program”
• Federal Priority to get more people
involved.

10. Being an Election Judge
• Made it a class assignment
• Individuals had to apply and receive a position
as an election judge
• Had to be trained by city/county staff on
being an election judge
• Grant assisted in mileage and lodging
• Pre/post surveys (n=75) “Carnegie Foundation
Political Engagement Survey”
• Focus groups (n=66)

11. Non-Partisan Service Learning Activity
• Registration for poll worker requires declaring
a political party
• Issue of party balancing at the polls
– Only visible when there is a voter who needs help
• Fairness
• Importance of human dignity regardless of
political affiliation

12. Sample
• 75 students- all FT undergraduate,
• 80% 18-24 yrs old with 75% of them
women,
• 75% A/B students,
• 34 SWK students, 41 other majors,
• 79% employed while going to school,
• 87% majority ethnic status.

13. Sample (continued)
• 95% had never been an election judge
before,
• 97% did the general election, while 25%
did both the primary and general
election.
• 71% did it outside of their own precinct.
• 929 hours served to community

14. What was your overall experience as
an election judge?

15. How much effect do election judges have in ensuring
election administration is fair, accessible,
and accurate?

16. Would you ever be an election judge if
it weren’t for this class assignment?
(n=66)

17. Encouraged students to express their
own political opinions

18. Guide students to understand the
connections between course material
and current issues and
problems in our society

19. Help students consider political issues
from a variety of perspectives

20. MN Secretary of State:
Desired Qualifications of an Election
Judge
• Ability to communicate clearly with voters
• Comfortable with assisting and serving a diverse
population
• Ability to remain impartial and not exert
influence over voters
• Physical and emotional stamina
• Attention to detail
• General math skills
• Fluency in a second language
• http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=585

21. Misunderstandings regarding
Election Judges’ qualifications
• 1- You do not need to be a senior citizen to be
a election judge.
• 2- It is not volunteering, but a paid position.
• 3- Party Balancing at the polling places does
not mean that you need to promote a political
party at the polls.
• 4-MN law supports getting time off to work at
the polls.