How to Run for Political Office: A Campaign Manual for Pennsylvania Candidates
(PDF of this manual)
Polling Place Officials in Philadelphia
Although it may surprise many people, polling place officials -- the Judge of Elections and the Majority and Minority Inspectors -- are elected by the voters of their division. Based upon size and population, cities and towns are subdivided into divisions, and each division has its own polling place officials. In Philadelphia, the city is partitioned into 1,681 election divisions, a synonym for voting precinct. The four-year term of office for these polling officials runs along with those of the District Attorney and City Controller, so they are up for election in alternating "municipal elections", that is, in 2001, 2005, 2009, etc.1 (Note: In general, elections are a two-part process, beginning with a primary election in the spring and concluding with an election in November. The elections in odd-numbered years are known as "municipal" elections because their major focus is on local officials.2 Elections in even-numbered years are known as "general" elections because they focus on national and state candidates.3 The difference between primary and November elections is discussed in Chapter 3).
Newcomers to the political process should consider pursuing one of these local offices for several reasons. First, polling place officials play an important role by ensuring the integrity of the electoral system and guaranteeing the public's right to a fair and honest election. Second, most election divisions have fewer than 800 registered electors (however, the Election Code has been modified to permit divisions with as many as 1,200 registered voters), so a candidate without large resources or an established reputation can contact nearly every person who may vote for him or her. Third, these positions provide an excellent opportunity to gain political experience and to demonstrate one's ability to serve as a public official. Fourth, these positions require only a modest time commitment. Finally, election board officials receive monetary compensation for their time.4
Judges and Inspectors of Elections must meet the following qualifications:
1. They must reside and be registered within the division;
2. They must be at least eighteen years old;
3. They must resign any city, county, state, or federal position at least two (2) months before the election.5
Once elected, these officials must complete a short training program on the operation of voting machines and the general requirements of running a polling place on Election Day.6 The responsibilities of the individual election board officers are listed below.
Judge of Elections
The Judge of Elections heads the election board for a given division and supervises the conduct of the polling place. He or she ensures that voters are registered within the division, prevents fraud and other errors, and accurately tabulates the votes at the end of Election Day.7 Judges of Election are elected for a four year term during the Municipal election when the District Attorney is at the top of the Philadelphia ticket (2005, 2009, etc.).
Inspectors of Elections
Two Inspectors are elected for each polling place. In the municipal election (2001, 2005, 2009, etc.), the candidate receiving the highest number of votes becomes the "Majority" Inspector. The candidate receiving the second highest vote total assumes the position of "Minority" Inspector.8 The Inspectors form a bipartisan board under the Judge of Elections, and serve a four-year term. On Election Day, typically one Inspector checks voters' registration documents while the other Inspector prepares the certificates authorizing voters to cast their ballots.
Finally, election officials may not run for any other civil office, but can run for re-election while serving as an election officer.9 However, election officials are not restricted from running for party office, such as committeeperson, at the same time as serving as an election official.10 An election official may serve as a committeeperson and as an Election Day official, at the same time;11 however, while serving as a member of the election board, a committeeperson must behave in a strictly non-partisan fashion throughout Election Day.
1. 25 P.S. § 2671.
2. Pa. Const. Art. 7, § 3; 25 P.S. § 2602(j).
3. Pa. Const. Art. 7, § 2; 25 P.S. § 2602(h).
4. 25 P.S. § 2682.2.
5. 25 P.S. § 2672(a). Note that under § 2672(b), a county may now appoint up to 2 students per polling place to serve in the capacity of clerk or a machine inspector, provided that they reside in the county, are at least 17 years old, and comply with the other requirements of the subsection.
6. 25 P.S. § 2684.
7. 25 P.S. § 2677.
8. 25 P.S. § 2671.
9. 25 P.S. § 2672(a).
10. See In re Ganzman, 574 A.2d 732, 733 (Pa, Commw. 1990) (holding that the Majority Inspector of Elections could also run for party office within the same district).
11. See In re Ganzman, 574 A.2d 732, 734-45 (Pa. Commw. 1990) (noting that as long as an election official is capable of maintaining impartiality, she may serve as committeeperson at same time).
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