Lawyers across the state are being asked by the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) to volunteer as election poll judges for the November 7th General Election. MSBA is encouraging attorneys to volunteer in their local jurisdictions as a public service to their communities, to help reduce an anticipated shortage of poll judges. Volunteer attorneys who serve as election poll judges are performing a community service, fulfilling their civic duties and helping the overall flow of the Maryland election process.

MSBA initiated this volunteer lawyer effort in response to a request for assistance from the Maryland Board of Elections, and attorneys have already answered MSBA’s call and volunteered. Working with the Board of Elections, MSBA has asked attorneys to volunteer in one of three ways: (1) as an election frontline judge, opening the polls and setting up equipment, checking in voters, assuring the integrity of the voting materials, administering provisional ballots and closing the polls; (2) as a parallel tester, testing electronic voting; and (3) as a part-time election judge, assisting with early morning set-up and closing of the polls.

The Maryland Board of Elections is providing training to all volunteers. Attorneys interested in volunteering in their local jurisdiction should contact their county election board by referring to http://www.elections.state.md.us/citizens/county_boards.html.