When voters arrived at the Red Lion Hotel in Redding on Election Day, they were greeted by an unexpected face behind the ballot tables – 16‑year‑old Morris Kopf, a sophomore at Redding School of the Arts. Kopf chose to serve as a poll worker not only for the $100 stipend but also to learn how the election system works, a topic he has followed for six years.
Student poll worker program opens doors for youth
The California Department of Education’s student poll worker program allows high school students who are at least 16, maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher, and complete a training class to serve on Election Day. Participants receive an excused‑absence credit from their schools. Kopf learned about the opportunity through his volunteer work at Shasta County’s youth peer court.
What a 16‑year‑old does on Election Day
Kopf’s duties included checking whether voters had their mail‑in ballots and envelopes, determining if a provisional ballot was needed, and directing questions to the precinct inspector. Like all poll workers, he arrived at 6 a.m. and stayed until after the polls closed at 8 p.m. He said the long hours were manageable as long as he could find someone to talk to.
“I can get the $100 stipend and go and do something that will give me experience in how our election system works,” he recalled thinking when he first considered the role.
Training challenges and teamwork
Kopf noted that the training felt overwhelming, with a lot of information presented without much hands‑on practice. He and two other new poll workers often turned to the precinct inspector for guidance. “There’s been some hiccups here and there, some special cases with people,” he said, “but other than that, it’s been fairly smooth sailing and easy. I think anybody could do it if they set their mind to it.”
Family involvement and community impact
Kopf’s mother, Evangeline Kopf, also served as a first‑time poll worker at the same location. She volunteered to help because she is Filipino and the precinct needed more bilingual speakers. Evangeline praised her son’s civic enthusiasm, noting, “I’m proud of my son for being an active participant in civic engagement and showing interest in his future.” She added that she wants to honor her son’s interests rather than push him toward activities he does not want.
Encouraging peers to get involved
While Kopf acknowledged that few of his classmates have taken on poll‑working roles, he encourages other young people to try. “You don’t even need to know politics to be in this,” he said. “All you need to know is that you just need to take the person’s ballot, help them make their vote, help them make a change, and know that you’re making a change.” He concluded, “I’d definitely come back and do this again.”
More information about the student poll worker program is available through the California Department of Education.
Original reporting: Shasta Scout (Redding) — read the source article.
