TO:       Presidents, Voters Service Chairs

FROM:  Risa Nyman, (rnyman@lwvma.org)

RE:        Pass-through Grants to Local Leagues – Recruiting Young Poll Workers

The League drafted legislation to allow 16 and 17 year olds to serve as poll workers was signed into law in September 2006**. Now we want to insure that it is implemented throughout the state to maximize the opportunity for high school students to civically engage by serving as poll workers and to help make democracy work. This is a wonderful opportunity for education, outreach, and visibility for local Leagues.

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts Citizen Education Fund is offering 6 local Leagues a grant of $200 to participate in a project to recruit young poll workers (16 & 17 year olds) for their upcoming municipal lection this fall. In the case of an area League (covering more than one city), the local League will receive an additional $100 per city where they implement this project, with a cap of an additional $200. The maximum any League could receive would be $400.

Leagues that submit a complete application will be selected on a first- come basis. The first 6 Leagues that submit a completed application will receive the grant.

In order to apply, the local League must insure that they have the cooperation of their city clerk or Board of Election Commissioners. If the Election Department cannot hire young poll workers for any reason, the local League cannot apply for the grant.

For those Leagues receiving the grant, the local League will agree to do the following:

o            Contact the head of the Election Department to work together to implement this project.  LWVM will provide a memo with suggestions for conducting this project in the community.

o            Conduct a PR campaign before and after the election. LWVM will provide sample press releases for before and after the election and a sample letter to the editor.

o            Meet with teachers, department heads, and/or principals to enlist their participation and cooperation with the project.

o            Make brief presentation(s) to high school classes and youth groups, when possible, to encourage students to apply to be poll workers. LWVM will supply 100 pamphlets to distribute to students.  LWVM will provide an outline for a brief presentation to high school classes.

o            Observe the training session for young poll workers.

o            Prepare a report for the League of Women Voters of MA after the election that will include: experiences of Election Department and students, evaluation of the training session for young poll workers, copies of all PR, and general evaluation of the project by the local League.  LWVM will provide a report form.

The deadline for the application is September 10, 2007

Law allowing 16 or 17 year olds to be poll workers:

** This new law permits no more than 2 poll workers in a city or town who are 16 or 17 years of age in each polling place. These young people must fulfill the following qualifications in order to be poll workers:

o        Be a resident of the commonwealth;

o        Be a United States citizen;

o        Be able to speak, read and write the English language;

o        Have a letter from a parent or guardian giving permission for them to serve as poll workers;

o        Have a letter from their school principal giving permission for them to be absent from school to serve as poll workers if the election or training will take place when school is in session or, if home schooled, have provided a copy of the document indicating approval to be home schooled;

o        Agree to attend required training sessions;

If a 16 or 17 year old poll worker attends a school that encourages or requires community service, serving as a poll worker may be considered a community service activity.

In no case shall a person 16 or 17 years of age serve as an election officer on the day of an election for more than the number of hours permitted for such a person to work pursuant to section 66 of chapter 149.