One of my earliest memories is going to the polls with my dad and experiencing the scale and necessity of the polls. It was an example of what our elections should be: an exciting experience that creates a more educated voter base.
I was reminded of that last week while working my first shift as a student election clerk. Through my involvement with Youth Do Vote, I was able to talk with two Bexar County election judges about becoming a student election clerk and how important it is for students to have this kind of opportunity to be involved even before they can vote.
On the day of my first shift, I left school early and started driving toward the Southside location. I was nervous at first since I was new to the area where I’d be working and hadn’t heard of the library before. I ended up getting lost, which added to my nerves and the commute. But when I arrived, I was immediately greeted with helpfulness from all the judges, which helped relieve those nerves. I was given some paperwork to fill out before being trained on the many different processes necessary to ensure security.
I quickly learned the purpose of each lock and label, and the security of the process amazed me. The numerous checks for accuracy left no room for error yet kept the process quick and efficient. Everything scanned was logged and constantly compared for validity with the central office. Each form was filed in case of an audit performed by the county.
Seeing the ins and outs of the election process was incredible and something everyone should experience. I learned so much just by talking about the systems with the many experienced clerks. And seeing people from all walks of life taking the time to vote silenced a part of me that had begun to believe only retirees voted in these elections.
One moment that stood out to me was when a young man came in after noticing the early voting signs. Despite not knowing what the election was about, he sat for hours studying a voter guide to ensure he made informed choices. It was a great experience that gave me newfound knowledge and trust in our democracy.
There is an unfortunate misconception, especially prevalent among young people, that one vote doesn’t matter. That can be dispelled by demonstrating how engagement can change things for the better. By getting involved, especially at the local level, it causes our leaders to take our beliefs seriously. The decisions made today will shape the world we will inherit tomorrow. When local leaders see young people voting, it reminds them of the obligation to build the best future possible.
Student clerking is essential as it not only helps our busy judges but also helps address the poll worker shortage and adds legitimacy to the ability of young people to be involved in the democratic process. Despite doubts about young people’s participation in our democracy, Harris County saw a significant rise in student participation after it automated its student election clerk program thanks to support from U.S. Digital Response. Young people need to get involved because every time they volunteer to clerk, block walk or register voters, they prove their generation’s capability.
For election judge Cliff Jenkins, working with student clerks has been very rewarding and he loves seeing the students’ curiosity and desire to learn. Since the average age of Bexar County election judges is 69, Cliff feels strongly that we need the infusion of youthful energy and to be training the next generation of poll workers.
Last year, the Texas Association of School Boards stated, “Schools are tasked with the important role of building the foundations for an informed, engaged, and active electorate. School officials can help develop an engaged electorate by providing opportunities for students to learn about and participate in the electoral and democratic process. ”
Being a student election clerk offers a lot of benefits and experiential learning opportunities. In addition to getting paid, students can earn community service hours for school and add an impressive credential to their resume or college application. The 2024 elections are critical and in order to staff hundreds of vote centers in Bexar County, we are going to need more election judges and clerks.
To learn more about being a student election clerk, I encourage you to visit the Texas Secretary of State’s website or review this list of FAQs from VoteTexas.org. Join the Youth Do Vote team of clerks and judges by completing this interest form.
Cliff Jenkins and Heather Eichling contributed to this commentary.
