Get Involved

How to get involved in East St. Louis Elections

Become a Deputy Registrar

The Volunteer Deputy Registrar Program offers a convenient method of voter registration for residents of the City of East St. Louis. It has proven to be the most effective and efficient means of reaching eligible citizens who are not yet registered to vote. Deputy Registrars may register voters who reside anywhere in the State of Illinois, and the Board of Elections will forward the registrations to the proper jurisdiction.

Who can serve as a Volunteer Deputy Registrar?

• A Volunteer Deputy Registrar must be:
• A citizen of the United States.
• A registered voter in the City of East St. Louis.
• Able to speak, read and write the English language.
• Sponsored by a qualified organization or agency including: The chief librarian or designated person(s) from any public library. Deputy registrars sponsored by libraries may take registrations only at the library location.
• The principal or designated person(s) from any high school or vocational school. Deputy registrars sponsored by schools may take registration only at the sponsor school.
• The president or designated person(s) at any university, college, community college, academy or other institution of learning. Deputy registrars sponsored by the above learning institutions may take registrations only at the sponsor location.
• An elected or appointed official of a bona fide labor organization or qualified member(s). Deputy registrars sponsored by labor organizations may take registrations anywhere in McLean County.
• Certain state agencies. The Director of the Illinois Department of Public Aid, the Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security and the Secretary of State may designate employees to accept voter registrations at such offices.
• The president or designated employee(s) of any corporation. Deputy registrars sponsored by corporations may take registrations anywhere in McLean County.

How long does a Volunteer Deputy Registrar serve?

A deputy registrar is appointed for a two-year term which ends on the first business day of December in even-numbered years.

Volunteer Deputy Registrars must be trained by the Board and are issued registration materials. For additional information contact our office.

Become an Election Judge

What is a Judge of Election?

A judge of election is the official responsible for the conduct of the election in the precinct polling place. Judges of election are the backbone of the electoral process. The job is challenging, interesting, and a personally rewarding experience.

Qualifications to be a Judge of Election

In order to qualify as a judge of election, an applicant MUST:

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be a registered voter in the County of St. Clair
• Be of good repute and character
• Be able to speak, read, and write the English language
• Be skilled in the four fundamentals of arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)
• Be of good understanding and capability
• Be a High School Senior or Junior who qualifies by Illinois statutes
• Be a Community college or 4 year year college student
• Not be a candidate for any office at the scheduled elections
• Not be an elected committeeman

 Appointment Process

Under law, the county Democratic and Republican parties may submit a list of qualified persons by precinct to serve as election judges for their respective parties.

The Board of Election Commissioners appoints these persons to serve as judges of election and the circuit court then confirms the judges not less than 28 days prior to an election.

The Board accepts applications to be an election judge from the general public and works to fill all vacancies. A person may file an application with the City of East St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners office or notify one of the political party committees that he/she would like to be placed on the submittal list for that political party.

Length of Appointment

Judges of Election are appointed for a two year term.

If I serve as a Judge of Election, will I be paid?

Yes. Election judges who work the full Election Day are paid for their services. An election judge who completes the training class can receive a higher amount of pay for working on Election Day.

Can I take time off from work?

Yes, most employers allow time off without loss of wages to serve as an election judge. Please check with your employer to see what guidelines they might have for this community service.

What kind of training will I receive?

Election judges attend a training class filled with fun and information. Please call the Board of Elections at 618-482-6672 for schedules of upcoming classes.

How do I sign up to be an election judge?

To receive information on how to be an election judge, call 618-482-6672 or email our office at ESLBEC@ESLBEC.ORG.

How much are election judges paid?

$120.00 with training, $85.00 without training