Record Number Of Coloradans Turn Out To Serve As Election Judges

More than 6,300 Coloradans have applied to serve as election judges through the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, and thousands more have applied through their county offices, elections officials said.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said the number of applications has surpassed more than any other election in recorded state history.

“We announced a new judge recruitment initiative in the spring, and it’s great to see so many Coloradans respond to the call to serve," Griswold said.

“Election judges play an important role in Colorado’s elections and have a front-row seat to the democratic process. As the youngest Secretary of State in the nation, I applaud every Coloradan, especially young people, for getting involved to help ensure Colorado’s elections remain the best in the nation.”

Nearly a quarter of those who signed up through the state are ages 35 and under, and the youngest applicants are 16 years old, elections officials said.

Don’t miss the latest election news updates in Colorado. Sign up for free Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.

Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder George Stern said residents "have shown overwhelming interest" in helping the county's elections division.

“We received nearly 3,000 election judge applications—about five times the number of positions we are hiring for. In addition to our experienced returning judges, we are pleased to welcome many folks who are getting involved for the first time, including a larger number of young residents than ever before.”

For the Nov.3 election, the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office is funding two initiatives to help counties recruit and maintain election judges during the coronavirus outbreak. The office instituted a $1 million statewide grant program for counties to increase pay for judges and is enabling counties to provide sick pay so that judges can stay home if they’re not feeling well.

The majority of counties have enough judges to conduct the election, but some are still looking for those who can work multiple days leading up to Nov. 3. If you are interested in becoming an election judge, contact your county clerk to determine if there is still a need. You can also still sign up here with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office and your application will be forwarded to the appropriate clerk, officials said.

Ballots for the Nov. 3 election will be mailed by counties to active registered voters Oct. 9. You can update your registration or register to vote here.