For credit, students help out at the polls

The students underwent the same training as the adult workers.
MERCER, Pa. -- There were some new faces at several Mercer County polling places in Tuesday's primary election.
Thirteen high school students were serving as poll workers in some precincts in Mercer, Wilmington Township and Sharon. While Mercer had some student poll workers in a trial run in last November's general election, Tuesday's primary marks the first significant numbers of students working at the polls, county commissioners said at their chief clerk's meeting Tuesday.
Commissioner Brian Beader said student poll workers won't be paid; they will receive class credit for their work, which is counted as a civics project.
Requirements
Students must be at least 17, a high school senior, Mercer County resident, a United States citizen, be approved by the principal and have their parents' consent. They undergo the same training as adult poll workers and are able to do any of the jobs at the polls.
On Tuesday one of the student poll workers, Amanda Hiers of Wilmington Area High School, was working at the precinct at the Wilmington Township building on Auction Road.
She had been assigned to show voters how to use the electronic voting machines, which she demonstrated to a steady stream of voters who included many elderly and Amish.
Amanda admitted she had never been in a polling place before but said her experience "definitely makes me want to register for the November election." She said she didn't know much about the issues involved in Tuesday's contests but was learning a little about them as the day went on.
Commissioners said they hope to next expand the program to Grove City, Farrell and Hermitage school districts.