Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2013, Page 56

Description:	itically activeSeveral Bloomington South students got a taste of the political process working asclerks and sheriffs at the polls on Election Day, November 6.Eighteen was often acknowledgedas a landmark age. 18-year-oldscould get married, join the militaryand buy lottery tickets. But comeNovember, there was oneparticularly noticeable advantageof adulthood: the ability to vote.However, this did not preventyounger students from becomingpart of the political process. Whilethey could not vote themselves,several Bloomington South studentsworked at the voting polls onElection Day, Nov. 6, to ensure thatothers could.Junior Janani Krishnan, amember of Young Democrats,experienced the election firsthandworking as a clerk at the SixthPrecinct. Krishnans duties consistedof checking the name andidentification of voters that enteredthe polls. According to Krishnan,the polling places wereenergetic. It was frantic attimes, Krishnan said.The long hours, from 4 a.m. to7 p.m., did not keep Krishnan fromfinding significance in her task.The election comes once everyfour year, and youre in it,Krishnan said. I know it doesntmake a big difference, but it makesyou feel like youre a part ofsomething bigger.Krishnan and other studentworkers enjoyed the opportunity tolearn about the voting process, aprocedure they would each takepart in during the next election. Infour years Ill be able to vote, saidsophomore and Young Republicanmember Levi Stull, who worked asa sheriff, corralling people into thepolling stations. Stulls experiencegave him more confidence as afuture voter. I feel moreprepared, he said.For Stull, the election wasabout more than simply casting aballot. Its your country. It matters,Stull said.Surrounded by ballots andprospective voters, Krishnan tooSenior Sarah Hoffman signs in voters at TheArmory polling location during the November 6election. Although she was not of voting age, newregulations allowed her to work as an election clerkafter a brief training session. PHOTO BY HAILEYJACKSON. Young Democrats sophomore SydneySpencer and senior Adam Warner and YoungRepublican senior Andrew Laszlo sport their club t-shirts on November 5. Both political organizationsmet regularly leading up to the election to volunteer,discuss candidates and spread political activism.PHOTO BY GILLIAN APPLEGATE On November 4,sophomore Calvin Anderson places a phone call toremind a voter to make it to the polls. Hevolunteered for President Obamas reelectioncampaign at the Monroe County DemocraticHeadquarters every day during the two weeksleading up to November 6. PHOTO BY ELEANOREcame to appreciate the value ofbeing a conscious voter. Iverealized its really important to beinformed, Krishnan said. I dontwant to be that first-time voter. Iwant to make my own decisionsbased on what I think is right.Senior Sarah Hoffman,president of Young Republicans,stressed that students must becomemore informed about politicalissues. As a young person, itsimportant to know where youstand, Hoffman said. Working asa clerk at the polls and keeping upwith the election, Hoffman hoped toaccomplish this task. I wanted tosee where [the candidates] stoodon the issues, she said.Krishnan shared this desire.And although she would watt fourmore years to employ it, Krishnanadopted the cautionary phrase thatshe offered to the voters at thepolling station as they left hercheck-in desk: Know who yourejhadng for. Vote responsibly.- EMILY MOON
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/8608
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

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