Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections
February 26, 2008
Contact:
Warren Slocum, Chief Elections Officer
Phone: (650) 363-4988 E-mail: wslocum@smcare.org
Alternate:
Carol Marks, Communications Director
Phone: (650) 599-1015 E-mail: cmarks@smcare.org
democracyLIVE! Receives Record Support from Local Schools
Redwood City, CA – Schools throughout the Peninsula responded in record numbers to the San Mateo County’s call for student poll workers during the February 5 Presidential Primary. In November 2007, Local school districts and high schools received information packets for democracyLIVE!, San Mateo County’s student poll worker program, and were asked to encourage students to apply for the program. Twenty-five schools confirmed their support of the program, 18 of which participated in democracyLIVE! during the 2006 election cycle.
Over 350 students participated in democracyLIVE!, during this election, from public and private schools throughout the county.
Schools who participated in the Feb. 5 Presidential Primary include:
* denotes the school is new to the program in 2008
· Alma Heights Christian Academy
· Aragon High School*
· Burlingame High School*
· Capuchino High School
· Carlmont High School
· Castilleja School*
· Crystal Springs Uplands School*
· East Palo Alto High School
· El Camino High School
· Half Moon Bay High School
· Hillsdale High School
· Jefferson High School
· Menlo-Atherton High School
· Menlo School
· Mills High School
· Notre Dame High School
· Oceana High School
· Pescadero High School*
· Redwood High School*
· Sacred Heart Preparatory School
· South San Francisco High School
· Summit Preparatory Charter High School*
· Terra Nova High School
· Westmoor High School
· Woodside High School
Regarding the support from local schools, San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum has said, “I am proud of our relationship with San Mateo County’s high schools, which creates a unique opportunity for students to participate in our democracy and understand the principles this country was founded on.”
Participation averaged 15 students per school, with a few notable exceptions. Most notable is Woodside High School, where 33 students took part in the program. Woodside High School has participated in democracyLIVE! since its inception in 2005, and interest in the program has reached an all-time high at this school.
Economics teacher Wendy Porter, who assisted coordination of the program at Woodside High School believes that the heightened participation may be due specifically to the overall interest in the Presidential Primary Election, but also believes that there may be an increased awareness of social responsibility.
“When you ask [the students] about it, they’re positive about the connection with the community,” Porter said. “There’s that sense of empowerment of students not just sitting there and waiting for adults to tell them what to do, but helping them.”
The California student poll worker program was established in 1996 to allow students the opportunity to get an inside look at American democracy in action. Student poll workers are critical members of the Election Day team, and provide support to Elections staff by assisting voters and managing polling place operations. In 2006, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger expanded the program by signing Assembly Bill 2671, allowing students aged 16 with at least a 2.5 grade point average to serve as poll workers. Previously, only high schools seniors were eligible to apply.
Students participating in democracyLIVE! are paid $125 for training and Election Day service. With school approval, students may receive up to 20 community service hours, which can be applied towards graduation requirements.
Information for participation in democracyLIVE! for the June Statewide Direct Primary will be distributed by Feb. 29. For more information, please visit the democracyLIVE! Web site at http://www.shapethefuture.org/democracylive.
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