Blue Earth County Elections Office releases training video for election judges

Blue Earth County Elections Office published a review video for election judges that walks through eligibility, equipment, polling‑place setup and security, and new legal reminders ahead of the 2026 elections. A presenter from the county’s elections office said the videos are a “recap of the 2026 in‑person election judge training” and emphasized they are not a substitute for the required in‑person classes.

The presenter outlined who may serve as an election judge: U.S. citizens at least 18 years old and residents of Minnesota for at least 20 days. Student judges aged 16 or 17 may serve in a limited, supervised role after completing the same training. The presenter said judges must take an oath to be impartial, courteous and professional, and that honest mistakes are distinct from malfeasance.

The video detailed equipment and security steps election judges must follow. Judges were reminded that all tabulators and related vote‑counting systems used in Blue Earth County are certified at the state and federal level and are tested before elections. “All systems specifically related to the counting and reporting of votes are kept off of the Internet at all times,” the presenter said, stressing the county’s practice of maintaining offline tabulators and preserving a human‑readable paper trail for audits.

County staff reviewed the three main devices judges will handle: the optical‑scan tabulator (DS200), the high‑speed ballot counter (DS450) used in the central office for mail ballots, and poll pads for check‑in and Election Day registration. The presenter described tabulator setup steps — including unlocking the metal bar, ensuring the unit is plugged in and printing a zeroes tape at opening — and instructed that all working judges sign the zeroes tape as the start of chain of custody.

Poll pads were described as electronic rosters that communicate with county databases via a secure wireless hotspot to keep voter information current. The presenter noted the number of poll pads varies with expected turnout and reminded judges to follow on‑screen prompts rather than attempting manual corrections.

The video also reviewed the ExpressVote assisted‑voting device required for accessibility. The presenter explained its functions (touchscreen, audio reader, Braille/tactile options) and warned that the sensitive screen should be cleaned only with county‑provided alcohol wipes.

Ballot handling and accountability were highlighted: ballot packs are shrink‑wrapped (most packs are 50, as indicated on materials), judges must hand‑count packets when opened to confirm counts, and two different judges must initial ballots before they are issued. Spoiled or abandoned ballots should be documented on the incident log or in a spoiled/abandoned‑ballot envelope; the presenter noted that incident logs may be used in court and encouraged detailed entries.

The presenter walked through the roles judges may be assigned: greeter (manages the line and verifies precincts), roster/poll pad judge (check‑in and Election Day registration), demonstration judge (neutral instruction for using ballots and devices), ballot judge (issues ballots and offers secrecy folders), ballot counter judge (monitors the tabulator and voter privacy), and head judge (manages setup, emergencies and closing procedures).

Legal reminders included a state requirement to post an American flag at the polling‑place entrance, a prohibition on tampering with equipment, the need to keep passwords secure, and language‑access resources for voters. The presenter also explained automatic voter registration through driver‑license transactions and warned that newly automatic registrations may not immediately appear on poll pads, so affected voters should re‑register if necessary on Election Day.

The video concluded by directing judges to the second and third parts of the series, which cover Election Day activities and poll closing/security. The presenter reiterated that the county’s in‑person training remains mandatory for those who wish to serve.