I talked with the head of voting in our city today to get my absentee ballot. She asked me if I would consider stepping up to assistant head judge from just a election judge. The person who was slated to be assistant head judge had not completed the online basic training (must be completed by this Friday) was wasn't responding to emails. Means I have to go to another training class tomorrow night, and a $1 more an hour.

We have new Electronic Poll Books (IPad with software) to replace the printed paper rosters in three ring binders. Completely separate from the ballot counting machine, should make the check in process much faster. First three letters of first and last name and the person should be on the screen. If they are not, search by birthdate. Still can't find them, register them on the spot with required ID. Pick a line, no more find the right line based on your last name. Should be a great improvement, provided that election judges using them can cope with the technology.

If anyone is wondering, the ballots are still the "fill in the bubble" paper ballots counted by a tabulator machine that Minnesota has used for years.