High school students in Cayuga County may soon be able to help with the voting process.
The county’s board of elections is working to partner with area high schools to allow 17-year-olds to act as poll workers. Speaking with Finger Lakes News Radio, Elections Commissioner Keith Batman said the board’s hope is to get more teens interested in the election process.
“We’re looking at this as a way to get young people into the electoral process,” said Batman. “That’s one of the reasons I’m so interested in doing this, as is true for John Camardo.”
Typically poll workers must be 18 or older but state law allows 17-year-olds to help with elections as long as their school and parent/guardian approve. Under the program, serving as an election worker would not count as an absence for students and schools may opt to count the hours a student spends working the polls towards their community service requirements.
Batman expects to have at least one youth worker at the June 25 primary elections and more at the polls for the November elections.
If a 17-year-old is interested in working as a poll worker, they are advised to speak to their school.
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