Baltimore County has recruited 1,500 election judges to staff polling places, but the county is still looking for substitute judges to provide backup. To encourage participation, the county is offering judges a new incentive:  $100 more per day.

Typically, county judges receive $185 per day, while chief judges receive $250.

The county plans to have 11 early voting sites that will remain open from through the end of the day on Election Day, November 3, plus 31 more that will be open on Election Day. All county voters can cast a ballot at any site in the county. 

Still, county officials are urging residents to request mail-in ballots. 

“Mail-in voting is both safe and secure,” County Executive Johnny Olszewski said at a press conference Tuesday. “Because of the time needed to process these ballots, we are urging residents to request their ballots as soon as possible.”

Beginning Oct. 1, voters statewide will be able to submit ballots at dropboxes. Baltimore County expects to have 13 dropboxes, all of which will be under 24-hour surveillance. County Board of Elections Director Katie Brown said elections workers will collect ballots from the dropboxes at least twice a day.

So far, more than 64,000 county residents have requested mail-in ballots, according to data from the State Board of Elections.