Who?
You can be a part of democracyLIVE!, San Mateo County's student poll worker program, if you:
- Are a high school or college student who is at least 16 years of age;
- Attend a school within the County of San Mateo;
- Are a US citizen; and
- Maintain at least a 2.5 GPA.
You must attend a training class and you will miss school on Election Day (with school and parent approval if in high school).
What?
As a student poll worker, you will be a part of a team managing a polling place on Election Day. You will assist with the opening and closing of the polls, checking in voters, distributing ballots, answering questions, and demonstrating how to use the eSlate voting machine.
When?
Poll workers work from 6 am to 9:30 pm on Election Day, and the polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm for voting.
Where?
You will be assigned to work at one of 400 polling places in San Mateo County, usually in your own community.
Why?
It's an important and busy spring election season for our state and for our county.
In order to help balance the state budget, California is hosting a special election. San Mateo schools are going to the voters as well:
- Special School District Election (All Mail Ballot) on May 5
- Special Statewide Election on May 19
- Special School District Election on June 2.
Voters will help shape the future of California’s budget and San Mateo County schools. Voters create a new California and a new America each time they cast their ballots. It's the genius of our democracy.
It sure beats learning from a textbook.
As a student poll worker, you will see our democracy in action and the way that citizens change the course of history with their vote, one election at a time. It's education through experience--something that's impossible to replicate in the classroom.
You get paid (and other cool benefits)!
You will be paid $125 for each election you serve in 2009 ($100 for the Election Day and $25 for the mandatory training).
Also, you may have the chance to earn community service credit hours towards graduation, depending on your school's requirements.
What's Next?
There are three ways to get an application for democracyLIVE!:
- Talk to your school representative.
- Call our democracyLIVE! Coordinator at 650.286.2810 or email her today!
- Visit www.shapethefuture.org/democracylive.
Applications may be sent via e-mail or fax.
