Stanislaus County students assist at polling stations for the 2024 election. ‘Inspired me’
On Election Day, as adults cast their votes, high school students across Stanislaus County will be at polling stations, assisting in the democratic process.
At Johansen High School, 21 students from David Muncrief’s AP government class are working the polls, both on Election Day and in the days leading up to it. For many, this is their first job experience.
“Being a part of that process hopefully gives them a better idea of what’s going on in elections and how the entire process works,” Muncrief said.
He also said it looks good on their resumes, while giving students a chance to fulfill their civic duty. About two-thirds of the students who applied for the program were chosen, he said. Countywide, about 375 students are serving as poll workers this election across 14 high schools, according to Registrar of Voters Donna Linder.
Before starting their roles, students completed a three-hour training session with the Stanislaus County Registrar’s Office, where they learned how to operate the voting equipment and properly greet and assist voters.
Georgina Marbina, a senior in Muncrief’s class, first heard about the student poll worker program in class. After working last weekend, she said she enjoyed interacting with voters and gaining insight into how the process works.
“It inspired me more to get involved in the political space because I feel like it’s really important for all Americans to care and be involved in their government,” Marbina said.
She said that among her responsibilities are maintaining a respectful atmosphere and ensuring everyone feels comfortable casting their votes. She said that learning about the voting process gave her greater confidence in its security.
“There’s a lot of unrest in our political climate right now with people feeling insecure about where their votes are going and stuff like that, so it was really nice to see how secure it was and how there was nothing shady going on,” she said.
Katerina Smith, another senior in the class, believed it was a valuable opportunity to engage with the community and help ensure the election runs smoothly. “It’s just really interesting to learn how it all worked,” she said.
Smith appreciated how accessible the voting process can be for individuals who speak different languages or have disabilities.
One thing she learned is that voters can recast their ballots by visiting the voting office. For example, if people already submitted a mail-in ballot but realize they made a mistake, they can void that ballot and vote again.
Though she isn’t old enough to vote in this election, Smith said she feels prepared for the next one, knowing how the process works and that her vote will be counted.
Gabriela Verduzco Jacobo, a senior at Denair High School, said a key thing she learned was how to help voters to the best of her ability, without interfering with their decision.
“I think the most important part of my job as a poll worker is helping people with any doubts they have, to an extent, so they can successfully fill out and submit their ballots so all votes count,” she said.
In August 1996, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1856, allowing high school students to serve as poll workers if they meet specific eligibility requirements. This law aims to foster a greater understanding of the election process and the civic responsibilities associated with voting.
To qualify, students must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, at least 16 years old on Election Day, have parental and school permission and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA. High school students can take one excused absence per year to participate in a civic or political event, such as serving as a poll worker.
Students get paid $150 each day and $235 on Election Day.
