CHICAGO — Elections officials removed a judge from a polling place in the city's 2nd ward after he began throwing unassembled polling booths around, elections officials said Tuesday.
No one was hurt in the incident, which was prompted by complaints that the election judge was misdirecting voters, Chicago Board of Election Commissioners spokesman Jim Allen said.
The judge was not arrested, Allen said.
In all, seven judges were removed throughout the city for a variety of offenses, including one who fell asleep.
Two judges were removed from polling places in the 29th Ward.
In one incident, a judge arrived late and fell asleep while ballots were being cast. She was awoken by an investigator sent by elections officials. She was removed when the investigator returned a second time and found her sleeping again, Allen said.
In the other 29th Ward incident, a judge was removed after she became "disagreeable" with other judges, Allen said.
In the 48th Ward, a judge was removed after becoming "rude and hostile" with other judges and abandoning his post, Allen said.
In the 9th Ward, a judge was removed after she fell asleep, Allen said.
In the 35th Ward, a judge was removed after an investigator saw him being disruptive and leaving his post, Allen said.
In the 27th Ward, a judge was removed after he sent elections officials an email claiming that he was being screamed at by other judges, Allen said. An investigator determined that it was actually the judge who made the complaint who was the one disrupting the polling place, Allen said.
Election judges can earn $140 for a full day of work on Election Day, with an extra $50 thrown in for anyone who completes a training program. Bonus pay is also offered to people willing to perform other odd jobs, like running election results to receiving stations and processing ballots after Election Day.
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