FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 19, 2006

CONTACT:

Carmella Sabaugh 586-469-7939
Mark Deldin 586-723-2004
Joan Sergent 586-797-1102
DiAnne Pellerin 586-783-6300 x1210
T. C. Wallace, Jr. 586-469-6100 x1209
James Avery 586-749-5123

STUDENT ELECTION INSPECTORS SET RECORD FOR MAY

Macomb County Clerk / Register of Deeds Carmella Sabaugh announced a record number of student election inspectors will work in the May 2 election. 82 students from seven area high schools across five school districts will participate. This is believed to be the largest number of students ever employed in an official capacity for an election in county history – beating by 10 students Sabaugh’s record set last year. Sabaugh is running the May 2 election for Clinton and Macomb Townships.

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

"We want students to become good citizens and this is a good opportunity to do that," said Mark Deldin, Chippewa Valley Schools Superintendent.

"We are pleased to cooperate with County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh on a great learning opportunity for students," said Dr. Joan Sergent, Utica Community Schools Superintendent.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to train a new generation to be responsible citizens," said Dr. DiAnne Pellerin, L’Anse Creuse Public Schools Superintendent.

"Students will learn about election rules and then apply their knowledge in a real world setting," said Dr. T. C. Wallace, Jr., Mount Clemens Community Schools Superintendent. "That’s education at its best."

"This program provides an important hands-on opportunity for students to see the importance of participating in the democratic process and voting," said Dr. James Avery, Superintendent, New Haven Community Schools.

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.

Students will work a half-day shift, either 6:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and will be paid $7.00 per hour. They will attend one training session on either April 24, 25 or 26, depending on which precinct they’re assigned to. During the May 2 election, students will work with other election inspectors to make sure people are registered to vote, ballots are properly kept confidential, and will assist with counting ballots and reporting election results on election night.

Students from the following high schools are participating on May 2:

• Dakota High School - Chippewa Valley Schools
• Eisenhower High School - Utica Community Schools
• Stevenson High School - Utica Community Schools
• Utica High School - Utica Community Schools
• Mount Clemens High School - Mount Clemens Community Schools
• L'Anse Creuse High School - L'Anse Creuse Public Schools
• New Haven High School - New Haven Community Schools
  

"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.

Sabaugh started this program last May when she employed 72 student election inspectors in Clinton and Macomb Townships after the local clerks there decided not to oversee their elections. She continued the program last November, February and again this May.

In the past Sabaugh did not normally run the day-to-day operations of elections. This year, as the result of a new law designed to streamline elections, she is required in some elections to hire poll workers, run voting machines and polling locations, and perform all the other routine tasks that local election clerks normally do.

This is not the first time Sabaugh has tried to generate interest among young people in voting. In 2004, she held a voter registration drive aimed at high school students and visited several county high schools.

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