BGSU receives grant to recruit, train student poll workers

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Bowling Green State University was one of 21 universities across the country—and the only one in Ohio—that received a grant from the Help America Vote College Program to recruit/train students to be poll workers come election day.

A press release from the university said this federal grant was made available to contend with the nationwide poll worker shortage. The university cites the Election Assistance Commission in stating that a presidential election requires 1 million poll workers.

“The C. Raymond Marvin Center for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement will use the two-year, $77,000 grant to establish a Poll Worker Program to recruit and train about 300 eligible BGSU students to work at polling locations in Wood, Lucas, Hancock, Sandusky and Huron counties,” the release reads.

The associate director of the Marvin Center, Kendra Lutes, stressed that this does more than fill an immediate need.

“Working at the polls is such a unique way of giving back to the community,” Lutes said in the release. “One day, our students may run for office, attend town hall meetings or advocate for issues to local representatives. Being a poll worker affords students an additional method to serve their communities in a valuable capacity.”

There are a few requirements for interested students. They must be 17 years old, and they must be registered to vote in one of the five counties this grant covers. They’ll also be required to attend the required training at a county board of elections.

The university will also offer other training and workshops to these students, according to the release. The compensation, in addition to the experience, is up to $200 as well as paid training. The release notes that those who need to travel will have their mileage reimbursed.

The university also highlights its BGSU Votes, an initiative focused on “voter and political engagement to increase the knowledge and develop the skills of students to engage in democracy, politics, policymaking, and social action.”

The release says students will also be connected to university alumni who went through the poll worker program and remain poll workers to this day.  

“We want students to leave BGSU feeling connected to their democracy and feeling like they have agency over what happens in their community, state and our country,” Lutes said in the release. “Becoming a poll worker deepens the relationship our students have with the community and affords them another opportunity to engage civically.”

Recruitment begins at the start of the fall semester.