St. Matthias girls volunteer to watch polls in L.A. primaries

San Pedro Region

During the March 5 Los Angeles County Primary elections, 23 students from St. Matthias High School in Downey learned more about the electoral process hands on -- as volunteer poll watchers.

The girls, mostly members of the St. Matthias Political Activist Club, took part in the Los Angeles County Pollworker Volunteer Program. To be eligible, they had to be at least 16 years old with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Once selected, the St. Matthias students were given an hour-long training session, then, on the day of elections, were assigned to 23 county precincts.

Mike Hersek, a U.S. History teacher and moderator of the Political Activist Club, said this is the third time the school has sent volunteer poll watchers. He explained that he encouraged the students to participate in the county program because "we want them to do something more empowering. They do a lot of service work in church and community -- and that's great -- but we want them to become aware that they can do more...that they should be involved in the whole decision-making process."

"Even though there wasn't a big [voter] turn out, the fact that you're helping is quite thrilling," said Sonia Lopez, a senior and the club president.

The student volunteers were at the precincts at 6 a.m. to help set up the polls. Each welcomed and assisted voters, distributed ballots, acted as translator and helped pack-up at the end of the day. Hersek said the students felt it was a good learning experience that fired them up to become more politically involved -- just as he had hoped it would.

"By working the polls, it's helping me get started with what could be my political career," said Lopez, who dreams of serving Californians as governor someday.