The Youth @ the Booth Program is available to senior students in good standing who are at least 17 years old. It is geared toward students who are interested in community service, government/history, and service clubs. Students are eligible to participate with approval from both their school and parent/guardian. All activities must be executed without partisan bias and without promoting any point of view on a candidate or issue. This project gives youth hands-on experience assisting citizens with the voting process.
Key points of the program:
- Students serve as poll workers in Clinton County on Election Day
- Students request to join the program by filling out a Youth @ the Booth Application.
- Students must attend a 3-hour training before they can serve
- Students must commit to working the entire day on Election Day
- Spots are limited to one 17-year-old student per Clinton County voting precinct (36)
Students will have the opportunity to:
- Gain a better understanding of the elections process
- Assist voters in casting their vote on election day
- Protect our democracy by making sure every eligible voter can vote
- Contribute to their community in a practical and meaningful way
- Earn money for training and working the polls on election day.
- Obtain experience for resumes and college applications
Student Participation Criteria
- Be a resident of Clinton County, Ohio
- Be enrolled in the senior year of high school
- Be at least 17 years of age
- Be a United States citizen
- Complete and submit an application form.
- Declare a preferred political party affiliation as part of the application process
- Obtain written parental/guardian approval (included on application form)
- Obtain a recommendation from the school (included on application form)
- Attend a 3-hour training course
- Have access to reliable transportation to training and to their assigned polling location on election day
- Be willing to work the entire day (5:30 a.m. until closing – approximately 8:30 p.m.)
- Be committed to serving without political bias
Participating schools may provide extra credit and other incentives, at their discretion, to students who participate in the program. All students participating in this program shall be excused for their absence from school while they serve as a precinct election official on Election Day (ORC 3501.22(C)(4)).
To, apply, download, complete and return a Youth @ the Booth Application. For more information on the program, call our office at 937-382-3537 or by contacting us at [email protected].
Positive civic engagement is an important pathway to strong communities and a healthy democracy. We hope you will join our team!