Retaining judges is proving to be particularly difficult this year, Schultz said. It’s the first gubernatorial primary since legislators voted in 2011 to move the election date from September to June.

“We’re going to have judges,” said Stuart Harvey, the county's election director. “But if we are short, it might mean that people will have to wait a little longer in line or to get a machine to vote.”

About 50 judges signed up in the last two weeks, but there’s no guarantee that everyone will be able to work June 24, Schultz said. Ideally, they would have alternate judges to fill any gaps, but she said this election’s higher dropout rate has left officials without that luxury.

“When people signed up in March and April, I guess they hadn’t made their summer plans and now they’re going on vacation and can’t work,” she said.

Some sign-ups aren’t coming to the training sessions and others will show up, but then report that they are unavailable to work.

“I get new ones every day,” she said.

Election judges are responsible for ensuring that polling locations run efficiently on primary day. In Frederick County, the judges receive training and pay, although the long hours can make recruitment difficult, Schultz said.

“It doesn’t pay a lot, it’s a long day, but it plays a critical part,” Harvey said. “It’s rather critical that we have enough judges so the election goes smoothly.”

Registered voters ages 17 and older are eligible to apply, and participants should be willing to work at least 15 hours on primary day, according to the application.

According to a news release from the Frederick County Board Elections, judges are compensated $40 for training and a minimum of $125 for primary day work.

The county’s shortage is part of a national trend, according to Hoda Zaki, a Hood College political science professor and longtime election judge. Returning election judges are usually older than 50 or retired, Zaki said, and the job requirements, including bans on cellphones and leaving the precinct, can deter young people and parents.

“It’s an aging population. Frederick is part of that demographic, part of the same problem,” Zaki said. “This particular shortage is more acute because of the change of the primary date.”

Schultz said officials will continue to recruit judges through the county election board website, and they plan to put out another announcement.

However, Zaki said the old methods may not be sustainable and the problem could continue to appear without institutional change.

“We have to think of ways to increase the numbers and who works at the polls,” she said. “It’s important to have poll workers that represent the whole community: younger people, African-Americans, handicapped, Latinos ... people walking into the precinct need to feel that all votes count.” 

Follow Laura Blasey on Twitter: @lblasey.

What does it take to be an election judge?

Judges must be:

n Age 17 or older

n Registered to vote in Maryland

n Able to speak, read and write in English

n Able to sit or stand for extended periods of time

n Willing to work at least a 15-hour day and outside their home precinct

More information is available at www.frederickcountymd.gov/index.aspx?nid=1198 or by calling 301-600-8683.