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Election Board considers use of students for poll workers in the next election




The Carroll County Election Board met last week to finalize 2020 Election Day plans and to also discuss the 2022 Election.

It was announced there will be two teams of absentee board members to count the expected increase in the number of absentee ballots this year. The absentee board members will use room 209 on the second floor of the courthouse, sometimes called the ‘Commissioners’ Meeting Room’ to do their work. The room will not be open to the public while the ballots are being counted.

County Clerk Sharon Milburn advised Monday that no public will be allowed in the Clerk’s Office on Election Day. However, after the polls close at 6 p.m., she will use the standard chalk board to tally the votes. Printed vote tally sheets will be distributed outside of the Clerk’s Office.

Milburn reported some counties are using youth who are 16 and 17 years old as poll workers to guide voters to the ballots and then to the voting machines when necessary. Election Board members Drew Sandora and Sandi Cripe agreed with Milburn that the concept is good, however there is not enough time before this year’s election to organize the program, called the “Student Poll Worker Program.”

Milburn provided a handout about the program, which indicated the students would serve as precinct election officers rather than inspectors. They would assist any precinct election officer.

The students will have to be citizens of the United States, a resident of Carroll County, have a cumulative grade point average equivalent to not less than a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and have the written approval of the principal of the school, or if home-schooled, the person responsible for the education of the student.

The student will also have to have written approval from the parent or guardian and have (or will) attend poll worker training provided by the Election Board as required. The student poll workers will be required to be in attendance at the polling location assigned for the entirety of Election Day and will also be required to notify all appropriate parties of their absence from school. The students will also be required to provide their own transportation.

Election Board members agreed this program would help to engage students in the democratic process of elections, which would perhaps lead to more involvement on the student’s part in the future.