A biopotential electrode for transferring electrical signals with a subject that includes an electrical conductor, a membrane selectively permeable to ionic conduction for presenting a dry surface to the subject, and a conductive medium positioned in communication with a portion of the electrical conductor and a portion of the membrane. The electrical potentials are coupled from the subject across the membrane into the conductive medium and then transferred from the subject to the electrical conductor. In other embodiments, the electrical potentials may be transferred from the external conductor to the subject through the conductive medium across the membrane into the subject. Other embodiments include systems and methods for using the biopotential electrodes.