Schools

Great Valley Seniors Work the Polls

The students conducted exit polls, worked as polling clerks and volunteered with campaigns.

Despite having the day off, dozens of Great Valley High School students were busy at work on election day.

About 60 students conducted exit polling at sites within the district, according to GVHS teacher Gerry McGrath.

As voters exited polling places, they were greeted by teenagers like Danling Eye and Samantha Stern, who covered the afternoon shift at People's Light and Theatre Company. The students noted basic demographic information—age bracket, gender, type of employment—and asked how the people voted in various races.

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"A few people ignored us, but mostly it's been good," said GVHS senior Joe McCahon, who was stationed with four other students at Sugartown Elementary School Tuesday morning. He added that very early exits indicated a slight Republican edge.

Also on the afternoon shift was Elliot Bickel, who worked solo outside Malvern Borough's lone polling place. With eight respondents tallied less than a half-hour into his afternoon shift, he said that the voters were sticking to the party line for presidential candidates, but not necessarily in downticket races.  

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Some students volunteered with campaigns. Other students, like Alex Dickinson, worked as polling clerks. All told, the total number of students working at the polls in some capacity was likely over 100, according to McGrath, who teaches government and economics at the high school.

"They could be sleeping in today," he said. "I think it speaks well for students who don't always get praise."


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