|
 Staff photo/Angela Weaver
Carla Cooper, 18, and a senior at Memorial High School, checks a voter registration log Tuesday afternoon. Cooper, along with a handful of other seniors, volunteered as a poll worker.
By ANGELA WEAVER
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Voters may have seen a few younger faces at the polls Tuesday when they went to cast their ballots, as high school seniors lent a hand on Election Day throughout Auglaize County.
Students volunteered as poll workers, being able to earn a few extra credit points and miss a day of class to get a behind-the-scenes look at what happens on voting day. Students in St. Marys, New Bremen, Minster and Wapakoneta took advantage of the opportunity.
Auglaize County Board of Elections Director Carolyn Campbell estimated around 20 students helped work the polls in the county, with the majority helping out in St. Marys. “It makes them a lot more aware of what goes on behind the scenes,” Campbell said.
Campbell said having students as poll workers has been in place for a few years in other counties and Auglaize County opened it up to the schools last year.
“They have to declare a party. In Auglaize County, we have a lot of Republicans, but we’re short on Democrats,” Campbell said, adding that most of the students chosen of those who volunteered were Democrat to help with party balance at the polls.
Mike Jay, a social studies teacher at Memorial High School, estimated more than 20 of his Advanced Placement Government senior students volunteered to be a poll worker. However the Board of Elections only took the number of students they needed.
Jay said the students were excused for the day and they had to go through the Saturday training in October to be a poll worker, which the county reimbursed them for.
The students also were paid a fee by the Board of Elections to work the polls, like any other poll worker.
“We think it’s a great way, not only to learn about the election process, but to actually take part in it,” Jay said. “The kids raved about it last year.”
Jay said the students also will receive extra credit.
“I give extra credit to them when they take part in things that encourage good citizenship,” he said.
Amy Ellis said she arrived at the Union Hall at approximately 6 a.m. and the workers were told they’d be there until around 8:15 p.m.
“I can’t vote yet and I had no idea what it was like,” Ellis said. “It makes me freaked out less about going to vote.”
Ellis, 17, said she thought it was neat to see how the system works.
“It’s more than you would learn in government class, like all the documents you have to do for one person to vote,” she said.
Taylor Dicus, 17, said she liked that they got paid for helping, but she also learned a lot about the process.
“It’s not a complicated process whatsoever,” Dicus said. “And anyone can vote, even if they aren’t registered correctly.”
Carla Cooper, 18, said she has voted before, but it was her first time as a poll worker.
“It was a step-by-step, easy process to follow,” Cooper said of the first time she voted.
“I knew everything that was going to happen, but it’s neat seeing how it worked and getting to talk to the people. It’s hands-on, definitely.”
Adam Kuffner and Torie Hile, both 17, worked at the same table in the Union Hall.
Hile said learning how to vote and how to use the M100 machine was what she found beneficial, while Kuffner said he liked the experience and seeing what it was like.
“I feel like we’re helping out in the community,” Kuffner said.
Hile said the experience will make her more comfortable with the process when she is old enough to vote.
“I know what’s going to happen,” Hile said. “It’s nice working for our government and helping out on this important day and on this important election.” |
