Purpose

• Clarify the legal status of election judges by confirming they are not employees of the appointing authority.
• Ensure that appointing authorities cannot require election judges to meet employment conditions or duties that are not related to performing the election judge duties.

Main Provisions

• Adds Subdivision 7 to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 204B19.
• Provides that nothing in this section establishes that an election judge is an employee of an appointing authority.
• Prohibits an appointing authority from requiring, as a condition of appointment, that an election judge be subject to requirements by the appointing authority that are unrelated to the ability to perform the duties of an election judge or that would otherwise be required as a condition of employment for a permanent employee of the appointing authority.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Codifies a formal distinction: election judges are not considered employees of the appointing authority.
• Limits appointment conditions to duties directly related to the election judge role, barring employment-style prerequisites.

Practical Implications

• Election judges may be selected or engaged without being treated as permanent or temporary employees of the appointing authority.
• Reduces the risk of imposing non-duty-related employment requirements on election judges.
• Aims to keep the role focused on performing election-related duties rather than aligning with standard employee criteria.

How It Might Affect Stakeholders

• Election officials: Provides clearer guidelines on how judges can be recruited and what can or cannot be demanded of them.
• Election judges: Clarifies that job status is separate from general employment for the appointing authority.
• Voters: Could affect staffing processes and how elections are staffed, with a focus on duties over employment status.

Terminology and Phrases from the Bill (Key Concepts)

• election judges
• appointing authority
• employment status
• employee
• Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 204B19
• Subd 7 (subdivision)
• duties of an election judge
• condition of appointment
• permanent employee

Relevant Terms election judges, appointing authority, employment status, not an employee, condition of appointment, permanent employee, Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 204B19, subdivision 7, duties of an election judge, appointment as an election judge