San Mateo County Prepares for Elections

In preparation for the upcoming Election Day, classes began in San Mateo County today to train more than 1,800 election officers to manage the county's polling stations on Nov. 2.

Many of the elections officers recruited to manage San Mateo's 349 voting precincts are retirees; others are high school students participating in a student poll worker program.

Most have worked at the polls before, Elections Manager David Tom said.
"I think around 85 percent of our regular poll workers come back and have worked for us before," Tom said.

Roughly 530 high students have signed up to take part in the county's high school poll worker program. The program visits about 20 campuses throughout the county and recruits students ages 16 and older to help man polling stations.

It is a good way get young people involved in the democratic process, Tom said.
"In November, we get a much higher turnout in our student program" than in the June primary when students are getting out of school, he said.     

Overall voter turnout in San Mateo County is higher in the general election as well, he said.

"We expect voter turnout to be around 60 percent," Tom said. He compared that to roughly 30 percent turnout for the June primary.

Student poll workers will be trained on their campuses over the next four weeks. Non-student poll workers, who are also required to attend training classes determined by prior election work experience, will be trained at the elections office in San Mateo.

As part of the training, practice labs are set up to help election officers get additional training in the areas where they need more work, Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum said.

"There is no substitute for preparation," Slocum said. "Getting off to a good start on election morning is critical."