ORANGE COUNTY — The Orange County Supervisor of Elections met with students at Lake Highland Preparatory School this week. The office introduced a new outreach effort aimed at engaging high school students to serve as poll workers and increasing civic engagement among students across Orange County.
In Florida (102.012(2)) anyone who is registered to vote, or in the case of those under 18 pre-registered to vote, can serve as a poll worker in the county where they are registered.
“This initiative gives us two great tools, first we are reaching out to the next generation of voters, and second it gives students a chance to be a part of the process while also providing credit to those pursuing a Bright Futures Scholarship,” said Orange County Supervisor of Elections Glen Gilzean. “Poll workers are a critical part of our electoral process, and by engaging with Gen-Z we can help usher in that next generation.”
In August, Like Highland senior Prateek Seela trained and worked as a poll worker, Seela will help oversee and expand the Gen-Z votes program to recruit poll workers at Lake Highland and other schools across the county.
“Younger voters must know they can be a part of the process and help shape the success of elections,” said Parteek Seela. “When I worked at the precinct in August, I saw firsthand just how vital poll workers are to the process, from answering questions to helping make sure the day runs smoothly, this is a simple way that young voters can be a part of the process.”
To learn more about becoming a poll worker in Orange County: https://www.ocfelections.gov/become-poll-worker
