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Audit The Vote PA

The Basics of Running for Judge of Election and Inspector of Election

  • You must run in the precinct in which you live. Only people who live in your precinct may vote for you. First, confirm your precinct here: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/voterregistrationstatus.aspx
  • Next, check your county election website to determine if there is a Judge of Election or Inspector of Election candidate in your precinct. This can be found on the official list of primary candidates or the sample primary ballot for your precinct.
  • Judges of Elections are the highest-level precinct election officials. The JOE must open the polling place, administer the election, and close the polling place.
  • Inspectors of Elections are responsible for checking voter qualifications and assisting the JOE.
  • Both JOE and IOE must be willing to work two long days each year (primary and general election) and some time for training. These are paid positions.

Easy steps for a successful primary write-in campaign

  • Vote for yourself
  • Ask the other members of your household to write your name on the ballot for Judge or Inspector of Elections.
  • Ask your neighborhood friends to write your name on the ballot.
  • Plan to be at your precinct polling location for a few hours on Election Day. Ask voters to write your name in and give them a card or paper with your name and instructions.
  • Review your precinct boundaries and ask your neighbors to write your name on the ballot.
  • Obtain the list of voters requesting a mail ballot. Contact them and ask them to write your name in for JOE on their mail ballot.

Important Reminders

  • Print cards or small slips of paper with your name and the office you are seeking to hand out to voters. Be sure to remind voters that they must write in your name AND fill in the oval next to your name (see example below.)
  • No person should decline to run due to a lack of knowledge of elections or training. There will be multiple opportunities for training after the Primary and county training for candidates who win in the General Election.
  • The candidate with the highest number of write-in votes will win the Primary, and their name will be printed on the ballot for the November General Election.
    • JOE write-in candidates need at least 10 votes, and IOE write-in candidates need at least 5 votes

Special thanks to our friends at https://www.restoreconfidence.org/, who we’ve partnered with for this initiative.