Election day: It's not just for adults Election day: It's not just for adults (November 16, 2005)

By David Boyce

Almanac Staff Writer

Going to the polls on election day is an opportunity for a civics lesson even if you're not old enough to vote.

"I think the people really, like, take pride in our country's great democracy," says Menlo-Atherton High School senior and poll worker Emily Taylor, 17. "It's only one more year until I can vote. I'm really looking forward to it."

Emily and fellow M-A seniors and Menlo Park residents Skylar Brewer, 16, and Fiona Sites Bowen, 17, spent election day at the polls located in the Fellowship Room of the First Baptist Church of Menlo Park at 1100 Middle Ave.

They helped open the polls at 6 a.m. and close them at 9 p.m. and were paid the standard $105 for their time, which included two hours of pre-election day training.

The students were among 108 high school seniors in San Mateo County -- including 23 from M-A and 31 from Woodside High -- who participated in the program at the invitation of Warren Slocum, the county's chief elections officer.

Getting students involved is a way to "engage the next generation in the practice of democracy," said Mr. Slocum.

About three times as many students participated compared to November 2004 and the county plans to sign up even more in the June 2006 primary, he said.

One of the M-A students at the Middle Avenue polling place, Fiona Brown, said she was there to "participate in something that is our right, but that some people take for granted."

She noted that at M-A she took part in a mock election where she got a close look at what happens in a low-turnout election: "Forty percent of the people make the decisions," she said.

The homogeneity of the Menlo Park precinct was a bit surprising to her. "Almost every single person we've seen today has been Democratic," she said.

"It's been interesting to see who comes and actually votes," said another student, Skylar Brewer, an African American. "I haven't seen any minorities come and vote, so it's been a hard process, too."

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