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Ramsey County summarizes early voting judge duties and location operations
Summary
Ramsey County elections held a training outlining early voting location operations, judge roles (greeter, SVRS judge, ballot judge, equipment judge, head judge), reporting times, ballot-on-demand use, and procedures for spoiled and mailed ballots.
Trainer Kim of Ramsey County Elections opened the session by describing the flow at an early voting location and the materials judges will use, including a manual and duty cards. “To start, we'll review some early voting details specific to Ramsey County,” she said, and outlined resources and optional in-person SVRS labs for hands-on practice.
Kim explained that voters enter, complete an absentee ballot application with a greeter's help, and then proceed to the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS) judge who confirms registration and identifies the correct ballot. Ballots are retrieved, initialed by two judges, and issued with a secrecy sleeve and 'I voted' sticker. An assistive ballot-marking device is available at locations.
She reviewed each judge role: greeter judges welcome voters, help with applications, manage lines and interpreter requests; SVRS judges search and verify voter records; ballot judges obtain and audibly verify the correct precinct ballot and initial it alongside the SVRS judge; equipment judges monitor the ballot counter and prevent ballots from leaving the location; and head judges manage staff, administrative returns to the elections office, and serve as the main contact point.
Kim warned against pre-initializing ballots and emphasized that two judges of different major parties must initial ballots at issuance. She also explained the distinction between spoiling a mailed ballot (when a voter who already mailed a ballot votes in person) and spoiling an early-voting-issued ballot, noting that some SVRS spoiling procedures are taught in separate training.
The training closed with practical notes on who to contact for help and how head judges will receive additional instruction on equipment such as the ballot-on-demand printer.
