Service that Matters: Election Judge

High school students have many options to practice being a mature adult.  One opportunity available to is serving as an election judge.  

Voting is an important responsibility of every citizen.  People who start voting at the first opportunity after turning 18 are more likely to become habitual voters throughout their lives.  Elections only work when there are sufficient qualified election workers to ensure that elections are run smoothly and ethically.

Even though high school students are usually not eligible to vote until their senior year, in my home county of Lake County Illinois, all juniors and seniors meeting local criteria can serve as election judges.  Provided that you meet grade and attendance requirements, and have permission to serve as a judge from your parents and high school principal, you can do your part to support free and fair elections in your area.  Other counties may have different criteria for students to serve as election judges; contact your local county clerk for more information.  Your service as an election judge is a paid position; the Lake County Clerk suggests making a donation to your favorite charity as part of your service.   

Students living in the Chicagoland area can find the the information and forms online at their respective clerks's websites:

1.  Lake County Clerk's Student Election Judge website.
2. Cook County Clerk's Student Election Judge website
3. McHenry County Clerk's general Election Judge website
4. Kane County Clerk's Student Judge website
5. DuPage County Clerk's Student Judge website
6. Will County Clerk's Student Judge website