Illinois election judges generally earn between $150 and $285 for a full Election Day, depending on the county and the role. State law sets a minimum daily rate tied to county population, but almost every county pays well above that floor, and extra duties like training, supply pickup, and high-turnout precincts can push total pay higher.
What Counties Actually Pay
Real pay varies quite a bit by jurisdiction. A few examples show the range:
- DuPage County pays a flat $250 for Election Day, plus $30 for picking up supplies and another $30 for returning them.1DuPage County. Election Judges
- Lake County pays $225 for check-in judges, $240 for voter services judges, and $285 for ballot box judges.2Lake County Clerk. Increased Compensation for Election Judges
- Coles County pays $150 to judges who attend training and serve on Election Day.3Coles County Clerk. Become an Election Judge
Smaller rural counties tend to pay toward the lower end, while suburban and urban counties generally pay more. For the exact figure where you live, call your county clerk’s office or your board of election commissioners.
The State Minimum Rates
Illinois law sets three statutory floors based on county population:
- Counties with 2,000,000 or more residents (Cook County): at least $60 per day.
- Counties with 600,000 to 1,999,999 residents: at least $45 per day.
- Counties with fewer than 600,000 residents: at least $35 per day.
These are minimums only. Each county board or board of election commissioners sets the actual rate, and in practice it sits well above the statutory number.4Illinois General Assembly. 10 ILCS 5/13-10 – Compensation of Election Judges
Extra Pay on Top of the Base Rate
The daily rate often is not the whole paycheck. A few add-ons are common.
Training
Illinois judges must complete a training course before serving. In counties with fewer than 600,000 residents, judges who finish training within the two years before an election get at least an extra $10 per day on top of their base rate. Many counties pay more. DuPage builds training into its $250 rate, while other counties break it out as a separate $30 to $60 payment.4Illinois General Assembly. 10 ILCS 5/13-10 – Compensation of Election Judges
Supply Pickup and Return
One or two judges per polling place transport election materials before and after Election Day. Counties typically pay around $30 per trip, and judges in smaller counties are entitled to mileage reimbursement at the same rate county employees receive.4Illinois General Assembly. 10 ILCS 5/13-10 – Compensation of Election Judges
High-Volume Precinct Bonus
In counties with fewer than 600,000 residents, judges earn an extra $3 for every 100 voters (or fraction of 100) above 200 who cast ballots in the precinct. If 450 people vote, that is an extra $9. This bonus only applies where judges hand-count paper ballots.4Illinois General Assembly. 10 ILCS 5/13-10 – Compensation of Election Judges
Early Voting and Vote-by-Mail
Judges who work early voting shifts or process vote-by-mail ballots are usually paid hourly rather than by the day. Lake County pays early voting judges $15 per hour.2Lake County Clerk. Increased Compensation for Election Judges The statutory minimum-pay rules do not apply to judges supervising vote-by-mail ballots, so those rates are set entirely by the local election authority.4Illinois General Assembly. 10 ILCS 5/13-10 – Compensation of Election Judges
How the Pay Is Taxed
Election judges are not independent contractors. The IRS requires government entities to report election worker pay on a W-2, not a 1099.5Internal Revenue Service. General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3 (2026)
For 2026, if your total election worker pay stays under $2,000 and nothing was withheld, your county may not be required to send you a W-2. At $2,000 or more, a W-2 is required. The income is taxable either way and belongs on your return.5Internal Revenue Service. General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3 (2026)
Election worker pay is exempt from Social Security and Medicare (FICA) tax as long as your total election-related earnings for the year stay under a set threshold. For 2026, that threshold is $2,500. Cross it and the full amount becomes subject to FICA.6Internal Revenue Service. Election Workers – Reporting and Withholding Most judges who serve only on Election Day earn well under that limit, so FICA rarely comes into play.
Getting Your County’s Exact Rate
Published rates change between election cycles, and the add-ons vary by jurisdiction. The reliable way to confirm what you will actually be paid is to contact your county clerk or, in jurisdictions with a board of election commissioners, that board. Applications typically open in the summer before a general election, and submitting one does not guarantee a spot: counties place judges based on precinct needs and partisan balance.7DuPage County. Election Judge Application