§ 7-4-117 - Election poll workers program for college students. - Arkansas Statutes

7-4-117. Election poll workers program for college students.

(a) (1) The county board of election commissioners may conduct an election day program for college students in one (1) or more polling places designated by the county board.

(2) (A) The college students shall be selected by the county board from any two-year or four-year college or university in the state.

(B) The county board shall work in cooperation with the student government associations of the colleges and universities in selecting the students for the program and conducting seminars concerning election procedures for students interested in the program.

(3) (A) A college student selected for this program who has not reached his or her eighteenth birthday by the election day in which he or she is participating shall be called an election page.

(B) A college student selected for this program who has reached his or her eighteenth birthday by the election day in which he or she is participating and meets the qualifications in 7-4-109 shall be an election official.

(b) The program shall:

(1) Be designed to stimulate the students' interest in elections and in registering to vote;

(2) Provide assistance to the officers of the election; and

(3) Assist in the safe entry and exit of elderly voters and voters with disabilities from the polling place.

(c) (1) Each student selected as an election page shall:

(A) Serve under the direct supervision of the election officials at his or her assigned polling place; and

(B) Observe strict impartiality at all times.

(2) An election page may observe the electoral process and seek information from the election officers but shall not handle or touch ballots, voting machines, or any other official election materials or enter any voting booth.

(3) An election page shall be in a volunteer position and shall not receive any compensation for performing his or her duties.

(4) Before beginning any duties, an election page shall take, before an election official, the following oath:

"I, _____, do swear that I will perform the duties of an election page of this election according to law and to the best of my abilities, and that I will studiously endeavor to prevent fraud, deceit, and abuse, and that I will not disclose how any voter shall have voted unless required to do so as a witness in a judicial proceeding or a proceeding to contest an election."

(d) (1) Each student selected to be an election official shall:

(A) Take the oath of the election officials in 7-4-110;

(B) Serve under the supervision of the appropriate county board of election commissioners; and

(C) Observe strict impartiality at all times.

(2) A college student selected to be an election official shall be compensated according to 7-4-112.