On February 8, 2022, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 327 – Elections – Election Judges – Minimum Compensation with amendments. This bill would require local boards of elections to compensate each election judge at least $200 per day for each day of service on election day and during each early voting period.

HB 327 would mandate a new floor for election judge compensation. MACo does not raise policy objections with this goal – county concerns are merely practical and cost-driven.

From the MACo testimony:

As a rule, MACo resists policies that trigger costly or burdensome local implementation. If raising the floor for election judge compensation is a top priority for state policymakers, legislation should provide the needed funding to offset the resulting staff and operations costs for local boards of elections and their administration.

This bill would place a costly mandate on county governments to carry out new state policy. Under current law, counties have no choice but to fund these costs – competing for limited local funds against public health, schools, public safety, roadway maintenance, and other essential public services.

More on MACo’s Advocacy:

Follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2022 legislative session on MACo’s Legislative Tracking Database.
Learn more about MACo’s 2022 Legislative Initiatives.
Read more General Assembly News on MACo’s Conduit Street blog.