As a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, I can recognize the legitimacy of the looming threat of ICE deployments at polling stations to intimidate and influence voters this fall during the midterm elections. In our state alone, we need 30,000 election judges to ensure a smooth election takes place. To fight against this threat and ensure we have free and fair elections, it is time for more community members to become election judges.

When I was in my senior year of high school, I reached out to the county office in Norman County, Minnesota (located in Northwestern Minnesota). Following a phone call, I was selected to serve as an election judge trainee for the 2024 presidential election. As the only trainee for our county, I gained valuable communication and leadership skills, while also learning about the inside workings of a polling station. In discussions with classmates then, and since, I have been continually shocked to realize how few people are aware that they can serve in this role, let alone what being an election judge means. Moving to the Twin Cities and serving during the 2025 Minneapolis Municipal Election further showed me the lack of awareness surrounding election judging among today’s youth. This experience also further enriched my perspective as to the value of this service.