Many Sequoits took their civics engagement to another level as they traveled to different voting locations to serve as election judges in the 2016 election. Election judges started their days bright and early as they were required to be at the center no later than 5:15 a.m. Those who assisted took on a variety of positions including the roles of a check-in judge, Voter services helper and ballot administers. The helpers set up their assigned stations and prepared to welcome voters as soon as the doors opened. Although the day was long for many, students were faced with multiple voter rushes, making the job chaotic at times.

“I wanted to get involved in the political process,” junior  Jessica McNaughton said. “I am going to see the inauguration and wanted to see the process behind how [the candidate] got to that spot.”

At voting sites all around the country, there were specific rules that volunteers and voters needed to follow, one of the most important as showing complete bipartisanship.

Not only did volunteers check identification and verify its matching of information registered in the system throughout the day, but completed their 15-hour job with the separation of ballots into precincts and precise recordings of write-in candidates in each. Despite spending a long day at the voting station, many Sequoits addressed a wide variety of culture and minorities who came out to participate in the important election.

“My favorite part about the election judging would be that I got to meet and work with many different people,” senior Emily Voykin said. “I feel like I know my community more and who we represent as a whole.”

The students thoroughly appreciated the experience and the opportunity to fully understand the community. While learning the true voice of American Democracy, election judges benefited from their experience and received a behind-the-scenes look at how our country completes the election process.