Call to Service
Coronavirus concerns create need for minors on election day Story by Katherine Harrell // Design and Grophics by Elsa Pedrosa Noguera
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lection day is fast approaching, and it appears most states and American citizens are preparing for the big day. However, the nation faces a problem. Over 58 percent of poll workers are over 60 according to National Public Radio. Senior citizens but, these are opting out this election cycle, as they are the most vulnerable age group to the coronavirus. The solution Texas and 44 other states chose is to allow minors to work the polls and be involved in the election process. Most states set the age minimum at 16, including Texas. Seniors Bianca Rodriguez and Mira Aravamuthan, decided to partake. “Honestly I’m really excited just because I’m not old enough to vote, so I like that it’s a way to be involved in politics and get involved in the election without actually voting,” Rodriguez said. In order to become student workers in Texas, a person must meet the age
requirement of 16 and be enrolled in school. Students also have to be legal U.S. citizens and have consent from legal guardians. Students heard about this opportunity through a multitude of ways, some including social media and by word of mouth. “I heard through a group chat,” Aravamuthan said. “I looked into it a little bit and was like, you know what, I think I want to do this. I think this is a good way to help the election process and just see how it all works.” The Election Administration and Voting Report for the 2018 general election showed 70 percent of the jurisdictions reported having a “somewhat difficult” or “very difficult” time recruiting poll workers. “One of the main reasons I’m doing it is because I know a lot of old people who usually do it can’t, just because of the risk of coronavirus,” Rodriguez said. “So I k n o w as a young person if I do get
coronavirus, I will probably still be ok.” Katherine Bordon, an experienced poll worker, lives in Houston. She has worked at the booths for the last seven years. “I’m a geek,” Bordon said. “I’m one of those that think that elections
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are important. That’s what our democracy is founded on.You have to have someone to work the polls, and I enjoy doing it.” She is aware of the risks. However, she is still willing to risk catching coronavirus for a chance to be involved in this year’s election. “I worked the election in July, the primary runoff in Houston,” she said. “We used the masks and the face shields, and then they had the table guards. With all that and the hand sanitizer and the finger protectors for the voters, I felt ok. I was a little nervous at first, but once I got in and started doing it, everybody was pretty cooperative.” Although Bordon is comfortable with working the polling stations, she knows other workers who have decided to play it safe and not come back this year. “I know at least one person,” Bordon said. “She’s an older lady. She’s at least in her 70s. I don’t know what her health history is, but I think she’s worried about her husband’s illnesses, so she decided to play it better safe than sorry and stay home.” Working the polling stations is a new opportunity for teens who are not quite old enough to vote in elections.This may be something teenagers can continue to do after coronavirus is over. As of now Rodriguez and Aravamuthan have not been told where and when they will be volunteering. “I’m definitely going to do it again in the future just to be involved more in election day in general,” Rodriguez said.
