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June 12, 2008

Senate OKs bills to let high schoolers work at polls

PROVIDENCE -- The state Senate has approved bills to let high school students who meet qualifications work as polling place supervisors and moderators around Rhode Island.

Students would be supervised by the ward or precinct board member and would not be allowed to tally votes, according to a news release. Up to five high school students would be able to do so per ward or precinct.

If the two bills become law, students could be appointed to work the polls subject to the approval of the board of the school in which the student is enrolled. Students would need to be at least 16 years old at the time of the election at which they would work, a U.S. citizen at that time, a student in good standing at a public or private school, and at least a junior or senior in with a grade point average of at least 2.5 out of 4.0.

The two Senate-approved bills go next to the House of Representatives. One bill, S-2709, repeals part of current law that lets students serve only as “trainees” at the polls. The other bill, S-2707, takes the place of the repealed section, allowing students to serve in a fuller capacity at the polls, as supervisors or moderators.

“Allowing students to participate at this fundamental level of the election process is good for them, as future voters, and good for the democratic process in the long run,” bill sponsor Sen. James E. Doyle II, D-Pawtucket, said in the statement.

A matching House bill, H 7833aa, has won House approval and, according to the news release, is expected to be voted on by the Senate within a few days.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Andrea Panciera  at 6:05 PM | Permalink

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