Elections observed through student election judges

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Photo by Hector Cervantes

Senior Louis Culloton worked as an election judge at the Arc Center in West Chicago. He gave out ballots to the voters.

By Hector Cervantes, Reporter

The voting process was observed Tuesday as students received hands-on learning about civic education by working as election judges.

Juniors and seniors signed up to become election judges through their social studies teachers and worked as judges for the 2016 presidential election.

Judges completed online training classes prior to the elections taught by the DuPage Election Commissions.

On Monday evening, judges helped to set up, and on Tuesday the judges worked in the elections.

Senior Louis Culloton served as an election judge for the first time.

“I really didn’t know much about politics before the election and now I am more informed about politics. Being a judge was a great experience and I now know more about how politics work,” Culloton said.

Judges searched people’s names on the electronic poll book, handed voting stickers out, issued electronic voting cards and initialed ballots.

After the elections, judges had to count the ballots and help clean up after 7 p.m.

Besides gaining experience about politics, student judges gained more experience with working with people.

“I learned a lot about being with people even though I have always been good at that. However, I still learned more about how to talk with people and interact with them,” Culloton said.

Culloton recommends students become election judges.

“I enjoyed serving the community. It was something not everybody will be willing to do but I was. The day was tiring but I don’t hate it by the end of the day. I would come back to become an election judge,” Culloton said.

Election judges will be needed again on April 4 for the general primary election to choose the municipal, park district, library district, school district and fire district officials.