The Invisible Impact: How Students Can Get Involved this Election

The upcoming 2020 election between Democratic candidate Joe Biden and Republican nominee Donald Trump will be one of the most influential and important elections in United States history. Even though most teens will not be able to directly participate in the election by voting, it is still crucial for teens to get involved. 

In order for elections to run smoothly, poll station workers are essential. Working the polls is a great job for students — allowing them to engage in the electoral process, while also earning around $150 for their services. Working at a polling station requires spending long hours training and working, but it is one of the best ways to make a direct impact on the election. Requirements to work also include being at least 16 years of age, a lawful U.S resident, and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. The deadline to sign up for a poll station closed in late September, but according to the School’s Director of the Center for Community Engagement, Nancy Feidelman, an impressive forty-five students signed up to work at polling stations. 

Another way that students can make an impact is through writing postcards, calling, or texting individuals in other states to vote. Seniors Isabel Ross and Mitch Baltz, with the help of Paul Scott, Upper School history teacher, organized a postcard project where students can mail postcards to young voters in swing states, with the aim that “these postcards will urge them to get registered and make a plan to vote.” Baltz and Ross are working with the organization Sunrise Movement. However, there are countless other organizations students can get involved with, such as Postcards to Voters or Vote Save America. Feidelman also adds that “some students are phone banking and texting on behalf of campaigns, and are getting paid $15 an hour.” 

Although writing to others is a good opportunity to impact the election, making sure that those around you are registered to vote is of the utmost importance. In California, the deadline for voter registration, whether it be in person, online, or by mail, is October 19th. To see what the deadline is in other states go to vote.org, or to help those around you register to vote, teens can volunteer at organizations such as When We All Vote. Moreover, in the state of California, you can pre-register to vote if you are 16 or 17 years old. Pre-registration is important because if you do so, when you turn 18 you will not have to worry about registering to vote. 

Students can take smaller, but still important, actions to ensure the efficacy of our democracy. You can sign petitions and call your representatives to support the U.S Postal Service’s efforts to protect mail-in ballots. Social media is another great way to share information about the election and encourage others to vote. 

Getting involved with any organization that is helping out with the election will also count towards School community engagement requirements. According to Feidelman, students do not have to participate for a certain number of hours. If students have any questions or want to “get involved from the safety of [your] home,” as Feidelman put it, they can reach out to her or any member of the Community Engagement Board. Helping out with the election in any way “is working towards a better…healthier, more equitable, more sustainable future.”