Subd. 1. Minimum number required.

1. (a) A minimum of three election judges shall be appointed for each precinct. In a combined polling place under section 204B.14, subdivision 2, at least one judge must be appointed from each municipality in the combined polling place, provided that not less than three judges shall be appointed for each combined polling place. The appointing authorities may appoint election judges for any precinct in addition to the number required by this subdivision including additional election judges to count ballots after voting has ended.
2. (b) An election judge may serve for all or part of election day, at the discretion of the appointing authority, as long as the minimum number of judges required is always present. The head election judge designated under section 204B.20 must serve for all of election day and be present in the polling place unless another election judge has been designated by the head election judge to perform the functions of the head election judge during any absence.

Subd. 2. Additional election judges in paper ballot precincts.

In precincts using paper ballots, one election judge shall be appointed for each 150 votes cast in that precinct at the last similar election. At each state primary or state general election in precincts using paper ballots and in which more than 300 votes were cast at the last similar election, additional election judges shall be appointed to count the ballots and complete the returns in place of the election board that served while voting was taking place.

Subd. 3. Minimum number required in certain precincts.

At each state primary or state general election in precincts using an electronic voting system with marking devices and in which more than 400 votes were cast at the last similar election, the minimum number of election judges is three plus one judge to demonstrate the use of the voting machine or device.

Subd. 4. Election judge trainees not counted toward minimum number of election judges.

The presence or participation of election judge trainees must not be counted toward satisfying any of the required numbers of election judges in this chapter.