Youth Do Vote is trying to restore young people’s faith in our democracy, one vote at a time

Working the polls on election days can be quite overwhelming.

From directing the voting line and checking in voters to helping them register and use the voting machines, election clerks can’t seem to catch their breath on the busiest days of the year.

But Hudson Locke doesn’t see it that way.

“You really do get to see the fun side of it. You get to help people that are voting every day,” he said. “It’s very satisfying work — there’s not a dull moment.”

Locke is a high school student in San Antonio, Texas, and an election clerk for Bexar County. He became a poll worker through Youth Do Vote, a nonprofit organization dedicated to demystifying voting in the county through voter registration, voting education and recruitment of student election clerks like Locke.

Through Youth Do Vote, high school students can get involved in the civic process as clerks as young as 16, long before they’re eligible to vote, which founder and director Heather Eichling said helps boost students’ confidence and trust in our democracy.

“They see the backend of how an election works, they’re able to help voters and that makes them very proud,” she said. “It’s going to hopefully either restore or strengthen their faith in our democracy, democratic process and election integrity and security.”

Eichling said some challenges barring young people from voting are not knowing where to go, who to vote for and how to register to vote in-person or by mail since Texas doesn’t allow online registrations. By getting students involved in this civic process, she hopes young people are less intimidated when they vote for the first time since they’ve already spent time at the polls.

Locke said though he has plans to pursue political science in college, engaging in Youth Do Vote opportunities has allowed him to see the importance and impact of civic engagement and urged him to think about public service as a second career.

“The way I think of public service is that you’re having a minimal impact on a lot of people. It’s really great to work in those spaces,” he said. “It’s something that I would love to continue through my career.”

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