Anne Arundel County is short 692 Republican election judges ahead of the Tuesday, June 23, 2026, primary, prompting an urgent recruitment push from the local Board of Elections.

Maryland law requires each polling place to include both Democratic and Republican judges to maintain bipartisan oversight.

Anne Arundel has more than enough Democratic and unaffiliated applicants, but not enough Republicans to meet that requirement across all 142 polling locations.

Election judges handle the core functions of Election Day. They check in voters, manage voting equipment, process provisional ballots, and ensure election judges follow election laws at the precinct level. Counties depend on these workers to run elections in real time.

The county plans to begin filling Republican-designated positions with applicants from other affiliations starting May 23 if the vacancies remain.

Applicants must be registered Maryland voters, at least 16 years old, and available for a full Election Day shift. Judges receive compensation for their service, including training and setup, with total pay reaching up to $375, depending on the role.

The shortfall reflects a recurring challenge for local boards of elections. Counties must recruit and assign a bipartisan workforce large enough to staff every polling place, even when interest from one party far exceeds the other.

Residents interested in serving can apply through the Anne Arundel County Board of Elections or contact the office directly at (410) 222-0494 for more information.