The County of San Diego Registrar of Voters Student Poll Worker
Program is proud to be a part of the Live Well San Diego
initiative supporting two Areas
of Influence : Knowledge and Community. The Student Poll
Workers Program gives high school students the opportunity to learn
and gain firsthand experience by participating in the electoral
process, as well as supporting their community through service at
various precinct locations.
Since 2000*, the Registrar of
Voters has partnered with more than 180 schools throughout San Diego
County to provide students the opportunity to work in a local polling
place and earn community service hours. Each student receives a
signed certificate from Michael Vu, Registrar of Voters, acknowledging
their participation. Depending on the school district’s policy, the
student may also earn an Associated Student Body stipend, which is
then donated to the school, or earn a direct stipend. San Diego
Unified School District, Sweetwater District, and local Charter and
private schools participate in the program.
Poll workers
in the County of San Diego are U.S. citizens who are registered to
vote in California, or are persons who have been lawfully admitted for
permanent residence in the United States. Poll workers give their
valuable time by working at community polling places on Election Day
so their fellow citizens can exercise their voting rights.
Students may work in two of the five poll worker positions
available:
1. Touchscreen Inspector - Set up the
electronic voting system (touchscreen), help set up the poll, assist
voters and close the poll
2. Clerk - Help set up the poll, take care of voters and close the poll
Serving in either position, bilingual student poll workers assist
voters who may not speak English well enough to feel comfortable and
informed by providing assistance which enables these citizens to vote
in their first language. Bilingual assistance to voters is required
by federal law and is a commitment of the County of San Diego. All
volunteers cross train with each other and all poll workers are
trained to check the rosters, support the provisional voter, give
ballots and receive voting materials.
Since March 2004,
the student poll worker program has placed 11,080 students to support
the limited-English-proficiency community. Bilingual students provide
language assistance in Chinese, Filipino, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer,
Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Here’s what student poll
workers say about the program:
“This opportunity
increased my knowledge and appreciation for the voting process.
Largely because of this experience, I am eager to become a
voter.”
“Many people thanked us for volunteering at the
polls and it made me realize that some do take the elections
seriously. This experience was worthwhile because working at the
polls taught me valuable customer service skills and I would want to
work at the polls again.”
“I have learned the real
importance of voting and the training and commitment it takes to be
poll worker.”
Precinct Inspectors, who are in charge of their local
poll, also appreciate the student poll worker program:
“We really enjoy working with students. The more the merrier.
Students have great work ethic.”
“I think that students are an excellent source of help and hopefully inspire them to continue being active voters.”
“I can only suggest that we continue using students as part of any team. They are polite, sincere, and add the element of youth into the entire set-up.”
If you know a student who might be interested in participating, they must meet the following requirements:
Many students continue to support the poll worker program while
attending college and recruit family members to join in supporting
voters within their communities on Election Day.
The
2014 Gubernatorial General Election will be on November 4, 2014. The
Registrar of Voters needs students, returning poll workers, friends
and family members to volunteer as poll workers for the upcoming
elections.
Visit the website to learn more about College,
County, State and Student Poll Worker programs.
In the
spirit of a healthy, safe, and thriving San Diego County, here’s to
our students making a difference in our community!
* In
August 1996, the State Legislature adopted Assembly Bill 1856,
permitting high school students to serve as precinct board members.
As a result, the Registrar of Voters began its successful partnership
with local high schools in 2000 and in the fall of 2006, legislation
was signed removing the restriction that student poll workers must be
seniors in high school.