FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 16, 2009

CONTACT:

Carmella Sabaugh 586-469-7939

Dr. DiAnne Pellerin 586-783-6300 x1210

Dr. Christine Johns 586-797-1102

STUDENT ELECTION INSPECTOR PROGRAM CONTINUES SUCCESS

Macomb County Clerk / Register of Deeds Carmella Sabaugh’s student election inspector program remains successful and will continue for a fourth year in a row.

“I am impressed with the quality of Macomb County public schools and their willingness to help students learn and earn,” said Sabaugh. “A great way to promote voting among young people is to actually employ them in running elections.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students! Working as an election inspector is a unique experience and will provide them with the opportunity to actively participate and observe the democratic process in action,” said Dr. DiAnne Pellerin, Superintendent, L’Anse Creuse Public Schools. “The response from our students has been very positive. They’re looking forward to the opportunity to learn and earn.”

“We are pleased to cooperate with County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh on a great learning opportunity for students,” said Dr. Christine Johns, Utica Community Schools Superintendent.

Michigan law allows a high school student to be an election inspector if the student is at least 16 years old and there are at least three other adult election inspectors at the same location. Sabaugh will hold training sessions on Monday, April 27th from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Macomb Township Senior Center and Tuesday, April 28th from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Mount Clemens Public Library.

Students will work with other election inspectors on May 5th Election Day to make sure people are registered to vote and ballots are properly processed. They will also assist with counting ballots and reporting election results on election night. Students will work a half-day shift, either 6 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. and will be paid $70. Before the election, each student will attend a training session with other election inspectors.

“Since I have to run some local elections now, I thought I’d try to get young people involved,” said Sabaugh. “This program is a good example of schools and government working together to teach students, while getting an essential job done well, and that benefits everyone,” said Sabaugh.

This year local clerks from Macomb and Harrison Townships used a legal loophole to give up local control over school elections. For the next two years, Sabaugh will run school elections for voters in those townships, which include the following school districts: Chippewa Valley Schools, L'Anse Creuse Public Schools, Mount Clemens Community Schools, New Haven Community Schools, and Utica Community Schools. The county’s 22 other local clerks opted to run their school elections.

Sabaugh’s office received applications from L'Anse Creuse, Chippewa Valley, New Haven, and Utica schools. The County will use 36 students: 16 from Utica, 15 from L’Anse Creuse, 3 from Chippewa Valley and 2 from New Haven. The additional applications will be forwarded to local clerks for use if needed.

Sabaugh started this program in May of 2005 with Clinton and Macomb Townships after a law change opened a loophole that let the local clerks there choose not to run school elections.

This program is not the first time Sabaugh has tried to generate interest among young people in voting. Sabaugh has held voter registration drives for high school students and visited several county high schools.

“Voting is not just for old people,” said Sabaugh, who has served as county clerk / register of deeds since 1992 and admits she is at least 30 years-old.

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