STUDENTS RECRUITED FOR POLLS 800 TEENS IN COUNTY TO HELP ELECTION DAY.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Santa Clarita high school students will be among 800 teens countywide working the polls on Election Day.

Los Angeles County's student poll worker program recruits much-needed volunteers while involving young people in the democratic process - sometimes before they reach voting age - and teaching them to make voting a habit.

``It's a very exciting program to see the young people working with our veteran poll workers,'' said Jennifer Collins-Foley, assistant registrar recorder-county clerk in charge of election services. ``They get a lesson of democracy in action.''

The student poll worker program began in 1997 under a new state law. More than 1,500 have participated in the program since its inception.

Students from the Santa Clarita Valley took part in the pilot program and have remained active.

``Many of our young workers come in not knowing what a polling place is,'' Collins-Foley said. ``But they leave as committed voters.''

Sandra Cantu, a senior at Canyon High School, said that she is looking forward to working at the polls on Election Day.

``First I wanted to do it for the extra credit,'' Cantu said. ``Then I starting getting into the election, and I wanted to see how the election process works.''

Cantu, who will receive extra credit in her history class, said that the election has become a personal issue. She is following the candidates and the issues.

``I think the issues are right up there, especially the education reform issues they they are trying to pass,'' Cantu said. ``Some of the issues look good on paper, but it's hard to see if they'll work.''

Cantu said she cared little about the election process until she was introduced to the poll worker program.

``I was very apathetic,'' Cantu said. ``I really didn't like politics. But I started watching the debates and all the excitement of the election has really got me busy.''

Now Cantu is helping in a mock debate on campus, serving as ``Al Gore's'' campaign manager and helping him write speeches, part of a school history project.

Cantu is one of about 40 students from the Santa Clarita Valley who will be working this Election Day. Sixteen other schoolmates are involved, as well as eight students from Bowman Continuation High School and 15 from Valencia High.

To participate in the program, students must be high school seniors, at least 16 years old and U.S. citizens. They must be nominated by teachers, and parents must approve their participation.

No more than one student can work at each polling place, and a maximum of 25 students can be recruited from any one school.

Before they can become a poll workers, students must attend a training session provided by election officials. Two hours of training is conducted on campus. Students will be paid $25 for their participation.

``We are very impressed by how much the kids learn,'' Collins-Foley said. ``They soak up all the information and don't forget anything.'' On Election Day, students will work from at least 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and may serve as one of the four clerks. They are not allowed to work as inspectors, who are in charge of polling places.

``At the polling place they can choose what they want to do,'' Collins-Foley said. ``They can check in the voter, hand them their ballot or receive completed ones or hand them their `I just voted' stickers.''

Each student will receive school credit for the day and, in addition, will receive credit for volunteer hours required for graduation at most California high schools.

Longtime poll workers like the young helpers.

``We get great feedback from our veteran poll workers,'' Collins-Foley said. ``We would like to put a student in every polling place.''

Students also are helping learn the job of older poll workers.

``It's great to have some of the young people replace our retiring workers,'' said Collins-Foley. ``We really are having a near crisis in recruiting poll workers.''

Arlene Michel, 18, of Saugus, worked the polls during the April primary and has volunteered to work again in November.

``It was really fun and interesting to see all the different type of people that come out to vote,'' Michel said. ``There's young people, really old people, and families that do it together. It's really fun to watch.''

Though Michel found that the hours were long, she said that she wanted to volunteer again as a community service.

``Right now, I'm not financially stable to help my community in other ways, so I thought this would be a great way to help.''

Michel, a student at College of the Canyons and an aspiring lawyer, enjoys following the legislative process.

``It's definitely educational,'' Michel said. ``It's a great way to follow democracy.''