Welcome to the Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania’s JOE 1000 program. In 2025, CAP intends to elect 1000+ Judge of Elections across the Commonwealth who will strengthen our elections.

JOE candidates who join CAP’s JOE 1000 program will benefit from:

• Training to file, run, and win a JOE election
• Data and shared resources
• The PA CHASE team will chase requests/ballots in competitive JOE races from September 1 – November 5

To join the program, please complete the survey and pledge below. This is the only form required. Formal acceptance will be granted after review of the completed form.

Judges of Election (JOEs) are responsible for ensuring our electoral process is administered in accordance with federal & state election laws and statutes. All prospective election officers go through an appointed or elective process.

In Pennsylvania, the precinct election board is comprised of three different types of election officers.

1. Judge of Elections
2. Majority Inspector
3. Minority Inspector • Appoints clerk

The election board appoints machine inspectors.

Judges of Elections have a range of responsibilities and powers that allow them to maintain integrity and order in their voting precincts. The Judge of Elections maintains responsibility for the conduct of the polling place and the volunteers working there. The majority and minority inspectors work together to track voters, manage the polling location, and ensure returns are delivered to the county election office at the end of the day. The JOE is responsible for overseeing this process. The clerk and machine inspectors work under the direction of the election board. The clerk helps check-in and direct voters while machine inspectors assist in operating voting machines. In addition to election officers, each county’s constable is charged by Pennsylvania statute to work with the Judge of Elections to maintain order. JOE’s duties also require them to rule on challenges brought to them by poll watchers. According to PA.gov, poll watchers may lodge challenges to a voter’s qualifications to vote under the following parameters:

• Challenges must be made on a good-faith basis.
• Challenges to a voter’s qualifications must be lodged directly with the Judge of Elections.
• Poll watchers cannot interfere with the voter. Poll watchers are not permitted to approach voters in the polling place.
• Challenges cannot be based on race, national origin, appearance, surname, language, religion, or other characteristics not relevant to the qualifications to vote.

Judge of Elections’ duty to address challenges:

• The Judge of Elections has the obligation to determine if the challenge is based on actual evidence and whether there is a good-faith basis to believe that the person is not or may not be a qualified elector.
• The race, ethnicity, national origin, language, and religion of a person presenting themselves to vote are not sufficient bases for mounting a challenge. Discriminatory challenges that interfere with the free exercise of the elective franchise are unlawful under Pennsylvania law.
• The Judge of Elections must not permit routine or frivolous challenges that are not supported by a stated good faith basis and evidence that a person is or may not be eligible.
• The Judge of Elections may not affirm a challenge or refuse a ballot to a voter unless the election officers of the precinct (Judge of Elections, Majority, and Minority Inspectors) are satisfied that the challenger has proven the voter’s ineligibility on proper grounds and with sufficient evidence. The elected officers of the precinct have the responsibility of determining the qualifications of the person presenting themselves to vote. In the event of a disagreement, the Judge of Elections decides.

Responsibilities of the JOE include but are not limited to items listed below.

Prior to Election Day:

1. Contacting election board members to notify them of the election board training dates.
2. Attending all scheduled election board meetings in person or online.
3. Contacting election board members and arranging a meeting time at least one hour prior to opening the polls.
4. Picking up the election materials box and any other election materials needed such as machine keys, sample ballots, poll books, etc.

On Election Day:

1. Meeting all election board members at the polling location at least one hour prior to opening the polls. All members must be present.
2. Once assembled, all election board members must be sworn in by the judge. All elected board members must also sign the oath of office.
3. Preparing the polling place for opening.
4. Appointing any specific duties to election board members.
5. Opening the polling location and ensuring proper sign placement for voters.
6. Enforcing voting regulations and procedures throughout the day.
7. Filling vacancies and assigning relief periods as needed.
8. Closing the polling location.
9. Ensuring all forms are signed and votes are collected, sealed, and delivered by a sworn officer utilizing the proper chain of command.
10. Breaking down all equipment and returning items to the voter services office.

Judges of Elections and all elected officers must meet certain eligibility requirements under Pennsylvania law.

Pennsylvania law requires that all election officers be registered voters of the district (the election district or precinct of a municipality), in which they are elected or appointed at least 30 days prior to filing a nomination petition. Candidates who appear on the ballot and federal, state, and local government officials or employees cannot serve as poll workers.

In short, pursuing election board positions such as JOE allows citizens to have the opportunity to observe firsthand and ensure that the election process is operating efficiently and with transparency.

The TEAM CAP JOE HANDBOOK can be downloaded here: JOE HANDBOOK.