CINCINNATI — Election Day is right around the corner, early voting is well underway and the person who helps you might still be in high school. A new batch of poll workers are in training, including some students.  

What You Need To Know

  • New and student poll workers as young as 17 are in training for the upcoming election

  • Students will be helping to check people in, help with set up and tear down and help direct people where to go on Election Day as a part of the statewide 'Youth at the booth' program 

  • Election officials say about 200 students out of about 2,000 signed up to be a poll worker in Hamilton County 

Sam Fiel is not old enough to vote in a general election. She’s 17, but she’s about to get paid to be part of this election.

“My teacher Mr. Lewis, he was like, ‘hey, there’s an opportunity to make over $200 working the election,’ and I was like, why not?” said Fiel. 

She’s training to be a poll worker at the Hamilton County Board of Elections Office.

“I did not realize how elaborate like the setup was, how complicated everything is, how it’s like each little step is marked out, how to do it,” said Fiel. 

It’s all a part of the statewide “Youth at the booth” program. It’s an effort to get younger poll workers.

You can be 17 and do the job and so far election officials say there are about 200 student poll workers out of more than 2,000 who signed up in Hamilton County.

Some poll workers are already on the job for early voting and Jim Neyer is about to be one of them.

“I’ve been a voter lifelong, and as I retired, it was an easy thing to do. I didn’t have to take off work for anything to do it,” said Neyer. 

It’s his second time in training to be a poll worker.

“Every time there’s like new rules that come down from the state, better, fairer ways of doing things, equipment changes,” said Neyer. 

There’s newer technology and equipment designed to make it easier and familiar to bring in new and student poll workers.

“Get involved in your community, learn how these kinds of things work so it can be easier for you to vote in the future,” said Fiel. 

The Hamilton County Board of Elections Office is still looking for back up poll workers to help and there’s still time to sign up. For more information, click here.