Future Vote Creates a New Generation of Voters

Student volunteers with Future Vote help make sure Election Day equipment is working properly.

Photo Courtesy of Dr. Gilberto Zelaya

Student volunteers with Future Vote help make sure Election Day equipment is working properly.

During presidential and congressional elections in the U.S., many students hear about and discuss the voting process. But because they’re not old enough to vote, many feel that they can’t get involved. Future Vote is an organization that hopes to get students in grades six through twelve involved in the democratic process.

“The goal of Future Vote is to expose the democratic process of voting and the electoral process to students,” said Dr. Gilberto Zelaya, the director of Voter Empowerment for the organization.  “We want to expose youth to the democratic process every two years when they return to their neighborhood precinct.”

The Future Vote Initiative’s purpose is to expose youth to the electoral process in the U.S., specifically Montgomery County.  Students work as Election Day aides during federal elections.  Students are not required to be U.S. citizens in order to participate.

Junior Sabrina Clarke joined Future Vote as a student election aide in eighth grade after her mother recieved an email from the Career Center.

“Those who sign up [to participate with Future Vote] can help to set up voting day ballots and run election polls.  We do the ‘behind the scenes’ work of elections.  Everything that gets put up in our local schools for [Election] Day is because of our volunteers,” said Clarke.

In addition to being an student election aide, students can work as election judges. In order for students to become election judges, they must be 17, a U.S. citizen and registered to vote in Maryland.  Students who serve as election judges receive 25 Student Service Learning (SSL) hours, as well as a stipend of $30 for a four-hour training class that they must attend and pass, and $150 for Election Day service.

“Working as an election judge looks awesome on college transcripts, and it looks different.  It’s a unique experience,” said Zelaya.

Future Vote hopes to dismiss the Election Day myth that workers only have a job once every two years.

“Voters really don’t have any clue what goes on,” said Zelaya.  “There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that 90 percent of voters are clueless [about].  After [participation in] the program you’ll have respect and knowledge.  [Students] obviously are the future,” he said, adding that students spend too much time on technology, and could benefit from helping neighbors vote and protecting the Constitutional right of secret ballots. 

“I think it’s good [for students to be involved in politics] because that way we don’t live in oblivion,” said Clarke.

Zelaya agrees that students should be educated as future voters.

“[It’s important for students to be involved in politics] because it’s part of the process.  Youth should be very involved instead of passive.  After [high school] graduation, students are one step closer to adulthood.  As they come of age, students should prepare to vote,” said Zelaya.

Clarke thinks that Future Vote helps students realize how important their vote will be when they reach voting age.

“I think our generation doesn’t often realize how the simple decisions we make, [such as] choosing a leader for example, can affect our future and shape history,” said Clarke.

Including Clarke, Future Vote brings in about 2,500 students on election day.  Zelaya’s ultimate goal is for every 17-year-old in Montgomery County to serve as an election judge, and every 6-12 grader to participate in at least one election. 

“We’re the only program across the U.S. that incorporates students [into] the process as young as sixth grade,” said Zelaya.

Clarke’s favorite part of participating in Future Vote is working in the precincts, or places within the community where people go to vote, on Election Day.

“I love seeing people appreciate the hard work we put into something often taken for granted,” she said.

Zelaya belives that the work of the organaziation is successful in teaching students the importnat of the democratic process.

“[After completing the program,] when you become an adult I’m pretty confident you won’t miss an election,” said Zelaya.

For more information of Future Vote registration, click here: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Elections/FutureVote/Register.html or email:  Dr. Gilberto Zelaya <[email protected]>

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