Contact: Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Alternate: David Tom, Interim Elections Division Manager

(Redwood City, CA) Students from ten County high schools ranging from South San Francisco to Redwood City are currently participating in the San Mateo County Registration & Election Division’s Poll Worker program for the November 8, 2016 Presidential General Election.

The program, called democracyLIVE!, was established to give students a greater awareness of the election process and the rights and responsibilities of voters while serving their community as Poll Workers.

“Student Poll Workers are critical members of the Election Day team,” said Mark Church, Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder for San Mateo County. “This unique learning opportunity actively engages students in the democratic process because they are directly assisting voters at the polls,” Church explained. “They are witnessing democracy in action and providing a valuable public service,” he added.

Participating High Schools

The students currently participating in democracyLIVE! represent ten high schools, including:

• Aragon High School
• Oceana High School
• Hillsdale High School
• Mills High School
• Sequoia High School
• Carlmont High School
• South San Francisco High School
• El Camino High School
• Burlingame High School
• Woodside High School

Training and Stipend

Participants will receive training in advance of the election. Student Poll Workers receive a stipend ranging from $115.00 to $140.00 for the day, plus $25.00 for the time in the training if they serve on Election Day. 

Eligibility Requirements

Participants must be:

• Enrolled in high school or 2016 high school graduates
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States
• Residents or students in San Mateo County
• Sixteen years of age or older
• Hold a minimum 2.5 G.P.A.
• Have the written permission of their parents (or guardians) and school

Application Deadline

The deadline for students to apply is October 21.

Spanish and Chinese Speakers

Fluent Spanish and Chinese language speakers are highly encouraged to join democracyLive!

For More Information

To learn more about democracyLIVE! or apply, contact Program Coordinator Karla Gallegos at 650.312.5292, email democracylive@smcare.org, or visit www.shapethefuture.org/electionofficers/democracylive.

High School Campus Voter Pre-Registration Visits

The Registration & Elections Division is also visiting high schools to pre-register voters until the October 24 deadline for the November 8 election. Students as young as sixteen years of age can pre-register to vote, so that they are eligible to cast a ballot when they become eighteen. The central goal of pre-registration is to encourage voting among young people, a group that consistently has low turnout rates.

The press release is displayed in its original format. San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections website now resides at www.smcacre.org