Santa Monica High School Students Work At Vote Centers

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica High School students stepped up to work as election workers on Election Day, hoping to help their communities during the pandemic and make sure at-risk workers could stay safe at home.

They're not old enough to vote yet, but Cleo Fouts and Jared Arita wanted to contribute and give back. They were two of several high school volunteers at poll centers in Santa Monica on Election Day.

"I initially decided to volunteer because I wanted to help in this election process in any way I could," Cleo told Patch.

"This is one of the most important elections in history and I couldn’t sit around and sulk," Cleo said. "I knew I wanted to do something to help and because I'm not old enough to vote I felt that the best thing I could do during this election was an election worker. Not only am I making it so that less people at-risk have to volunteer but I'm also assisting the people within my community and that’s the most important thing to me."

A vote in this election means a lot to her.

"Although I cannot vote, every person that I assist in this voting process’s vote counts," Cleo said. "As a young woman living in this time period, it can be a very scary feeling when you’re too young to vote and can’t contribute to the election in the way you wish you could. Therefore every person that I can assist in voting is a little more weight lifted off my shoulders."

Action helps her feel better, she said. And helping out feels good, too.

"My experience working the election has been incredible," Cleo said. "I’ve met so many kind and intelligent people whom I’ve learned so much from. I’ve been able to help the people in the community, and learn the behind the scenes working of an election and it’s truly an incredible thing."

For Jared, the chance to work at the vote center helped him get involved in the community during an unprecedented year.

"I decided to volunteer because I haven’t been able to do any form of community service let alone involvement because of the circumstances of today’s world (COVID-19)," Jared told Patch.

The civil unrest and pandemic reminded him that there is a lot at stake. Getting out and promoting voting was important.

"I’m actually 17 so I can’t vote for this election but when I turn 18 in March, I’ll for sure 100% vote for the midterms, which in my opinion are even more important than the presidential election," Jared told Patch.

"Everyone has their own opinions on their chosen candidate however it’s more than just who we are choosing as the face of the country but who are the judges, propositions, and other state/local community measures that will impact my generation in the future," Jared said.

Jared plans to help again during the next election.

"I had a wonderful time working at my voting center," Jared said. "I worked at the Will Rogers Elementary location which went super smooth and never had a line for people to wait because our team was super efficient in the way we handle people."

He worked mainly as the check-in monitor and provisional clerk at that voting center.

"Being at the check-in monitor position helped me with my social skills because I tend to be socially awkward, greeting people, asking them if they want to vote in person or by their mail ballot, etc.," Jared said.

Jared hopes people know just how important it is to vote.

"I urge people to go out in vote because it is given right/privilege of the United States of America and many other countries could only wish to have what we have," Jared said. "Regardless of what party you vote for, your vote matters, and if your vote didn’t matter how come they are trying so hard to suppress it?"

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