COLORADO COUNTY What are Student Election Workers? High school students who are 16 years of age or old - er now can participate in the electoral process by serving as election clerks at the poll -
ing place during Early Voting or on Election Day. A student who is at least 16 years of age and who is enrolled in a public or private high school or home school and has the consent of the principal (or parent/legal guardian in charge of edu - cation in home school) may serve as an election clerk. The election officials must receive written authorization from the student's parent or guardian for the student to serve in the election for which he or she is appointed.
This program is designed to provide students with a greater awareness of the elec - toral process and the rights and responsibilities of voters. The students will assist their local election officials by filling po - sitions at polling places during the Early Voting period or on Election Day and working un - der the direction of the polling place presiding judge.
What are the Benefits of Serving as an Election Clerk?
Some of the benefits of serving as an election clerk
are:
Election workers are paid hourly for their service.
Students will gain practi - cal experience by serving their community and state.
Experience as an election clerk is an impressive addition to a resumé or college applica - tion.
Students can take part in a rewarding activity while learning about the democratic process.
Students can earn commu -
nity service hours for school.
What are the Responsibilities of an Election Clerk?
Working under the supervi - sion of the judge, student elec -
tion clerks may assist with the following duties: Organizing the polling place before the polls open.
Ensuring that qualified voters are permitted to vote.
Checking in and process -
ing voters.
Distributing ballots to reg - istered voters.
Providing instructions and assistance to voters.
Answering voters' ques - tions.
Explaining the use of the voting equipment.
Maintaining order in the polling place on Election Day.
Obtaining results after the polls are closed and closing the polling place.
What are the Required Qualifications of an Election Clerk?
To qualify as a student elec - tion clerk, the student must: Be at least 16 years old on Election Day; Be enrolled in a public, private, or qualified home school;* Be a U.S. citizen; Have consent of his/her parent or legal guardian to work the election; Have consent of his/her school principal* (or parent/ legal guardian for homeschooled students); and Complete any required election worker training pro -
gram.
How to Apply
Fill out the Student Elec - tion Clerk Application and Per - mission Slip (PDF) at the Col - orado County Election Center.
Have your parent or guardian sign the Parent/Legal Guardian Permission portion.
Have your school princi - pal sign the School Principal Authorization portion. Also, take the proper steps to ensure that your absence from school in order to work during Early Voting or on Election Day will be excused.
Send the application to the local election officials con - ducting the election in which you wish to serve (county clerk/elections administrator, city secretary, school superin -
tendent, etc.). Try to send the application at least 60 days be - fore Election Day (even though there is no statutory deadline).
If selected, attend the re - quired election training class before serving as a clerk. This training provides all the neces - sary information and knowl - edge to be a successful elec -
tions clerk.
Work at the polls as as -
signed during Early Voting or on Election Day.
