Candidates as election judges

Candidates for office could serve as election judges in precincts where they’re not on the ballot, under a bill that won committee approval.

Rep. Kate Knuth (DFL-New Brighton) sponsors HF591 on behalf of a constituent named Walt Witzke. He ran for the New Brighton City Council in 2009 and was told he could not serve as an election judge in St. Paul because he was running for office.

Knuth said the Office of the Secretary of State already interpreted state law to say that candidates could serve as judges in precincts other than where they’re running for office, and that the bill would merely clarify the statute.

“We’re really trying to clarify this and make it more straightforward so it’s not interpreted differently in different parts of the state,” Knuth said.

The House Government Operations and Elections Committee approved the bill Feb. 23 and sent it to the House floor. There is no Senate companion.

Beth Fraser, director of governmental affairs for the office, said nothing in the bill would prohibit election officials from screening election judge applicants based on other objective criteria.

“This is our interpretation of current statute, and we’re comfortable with this clarification,” she said.