Election Judges Cite Coronavirus For Quitting Before Nov. 3 Race

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The coronavirus pandemic appears to be causing some difficulty in recruiting enough judges for the upcoming election in Howard County.

Kimberly Phillips, a Howard County election supervisor who oversees the judges, told the Baltimore Sun that in the past week, between 90 and 100 of Howard County’s 1,995 election judges have quit.

Phillips said she has received emails and phone calls from people who have told her they cannot work this election season because they've come into contact with individuals who have tested positive for the coronavirus and must self-quarantine.

“People are quitting left and right,” Phillips told the Baltimore Sun.

Guy Mickley, the county’s elections director, said 25 to 30 individuals have cited the rising number of coronavirus cases in their emails. With less than two weeks left before Election Day, the Howard County Board of Elections is searching for replacement judges.