Students to work the polls

At least 73 will help at polling places in November.

By Belinda Kocen

Published Oct. 7, 2008

Because of a $25,705 grant from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, students can apply to work at the Boone County polls during elections.

The MU Truman School of Public Affairs is coordinating the effort. Public service coordinator Emily Johnson said the grant was awarded to Boone County in June. This money was used to help set up a Web site and get materials and posters to advertise. It also helped get T-shirts for those who became poll workers.

Students were given a few different tasks, professor David Valentine said. Most students who helped out in the August election were trained as laptop employees to check the county clerk's voter database for addresses of the people who show up at a polling location but are not on the list.

MU law student Tanya Horvath said when she worked at the polls in August, she and fellow workers would be contacted in at least three different ways to be sure that the information was not lost. If a voter had a change of address, the laptop employees would get an e-mail, a page and a text message. Junior Danielle Geneux, who also worked at a polling place, said there were two separate training sessions, which lasted about two and a half hours. The employees were given general background information as well as specific training on how to work with address changes on the computer and through cell phones.

The recruiting began in July and is continuing now in order to get enough workers for this year's presidential election.

"We got an overwhelming response of students who wanted to help, which was really good," Valentine said.

Many students who volunteered wanted a closer look into the workings of the democratic system.

"I haven't been involved in politics before," Geneux said. "I was contacted by a friend of mine to become more involved."

Even for those who have been interested in politics, like Horvath, working at the polls in August provided a new perspective on the time devoted to making the polls run smoothly.

"I just think that it will be a fun experience," graduate student Cindy Thomas said. "I never really had the opportunity so it will be great to actually see our democratic process in action."

There were about 73 students who worked at the polls in August. Valentine said though there is no limit on how many people Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren can train, there have been more student volunteers then there are places to put them for the November election.

The opportunity to return as a poll worker varies from student to student. Horvath said she would not be working the November election since she does not have the time. Geneux said she would be working the November election.

"It is interesting how much more I wanted to get involved after working at the polls in August," she said. "It gives you a whole different perspective."

Valentine agreed that working at the polls makes people more likely to want to continue participation in government.

"We've known for 50 years that young adults are the least likely to vote, participate in government and volunteer for poll worker training," Valentine said. "We hope that we encouraged them to become involved in the future of politics and poll working."