By Vanessa Dabovich
Las Cruces, NM – THIS WEEK GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON SIGHNED LEGISLATION ALLOWING SUPERVISED MINORS TO SERVE AS PRECENCT POLL WORKERS.
THE LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE JEFF STEINBORN OF LAS CRUCES STIPULATES THAT EACH MINOR POLL WORKER MUST BE AT LEAST SIXTEEN YEARS OLD, BE A U.S CITIZEN AND HAVE APPROVAL FROM A PARENT OR GUARDIAN. THE ALSO MUST ATTEND AT LEAST ONE POLL WORKER INSTRUCTION SEMINAR.
MINORS WILL SERVE AS POLL WORKER CLERKS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PRECENCT JUDGES AND WILL RECEIVE ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR SERVING ON ELECTION DAY.
DONA ANA COUNTY CLERK LYNN ELLINS SAYS EXPERIENCE FROM THIRTY-EIGHT OTHER STATES THAT ALLOW MINORS TO SERVE SHOWS THAT THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS. HE ALSO SAYS YOUNG PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT DEMOCRACY IN ACTION WHILE PERFORMING COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EARNING SOME MONEY.
POLL WORKER POSITIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR BOTH QUALIFYING MINORS AND ADULTS IN ADVANCE OF THE JUE 1ST PRIMARY ELECTIONS AS WELL AS THE NOVEMBER 2ND GENERAL ELECTIONS.
ANYONE INTERESTED IN WORKING THE POLLS IN 2010 CAN CALL THE DONA ANA COUNTY BUREAU OF ELECTIONS AT 575-647-7428.