Penn Valley students gain civic training for midterm election

The Social Science Division at MCC-Penn Valley recently participated in the College Poll Worker Project. Three classes in the Social Science Division were trained by the Kansas City Board of Elections to serve as poll workers and election judges for the midterm election. Many students worked the polls on Election Day and were granted extra credit or project points by their instructors Dr. Karen Curls, Deborah Scott and Lyle Gibson.

The project was a partnership with Missouri Western State University and the Kansas City Board of Election. The initiative was part of a grant from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. The focus of the project was to encourage young people to serve as poll judges. It also aimed to enhance student’s understanding of the election process and the value of the right to vote as well as increase the pool of skilled poll workers during this time of transitioning from paper to electronic voting.