2021 - Winner for Poll Workers

As an effective practice for recruiting, retaining, and training Poll Workers is to engage Student Poll Workers at the high school level. Serving as Poll Workers at an early age creates a strong core value of life-time public service in Elections. San Mateo County Elections initiated our Student Democracy Program during the June 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election. Over the past 26 years, the program has partnered with over 20 High Schools, serving 4,873 students ages 17.5 to 25. Through the Student Democracy Program, students have been afforded the opportunity to actively participate in the electoral process

The Student Democracy Program provides training for students on how to operate a Vote Center, develop civic responsibility, serve their community, and foster an appreciation of the voting process. The students that are accepted into the program, also known as Student Democracy Ambassadors, will assist voters and participate in their assigned Vote Center from 6:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Election Day. In addition, they receive a stipend payment of $280 for their work during Election Day and a 3-hour mandatory training.

Students must be 16 and older, U.S. citizens or legal residents, have at least a 2.5 GPA, and have their parents/guardians' permission.