High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old have the opportunity to work at polling places on Election Day as election judges.

Although these students are not old enough to vote, they are now able to help make the democratic process work by being election judges. Student election judges will learn about democracy "hands on" - and earn $80 in all.

The Denver Election Commission is looking for juniors and seniors over 16 (who secured the necessary parental permission and principal approval) to become judges.

Student judges work a long day, from 6:00 a.m. to about 8:00 p.m. and are paid $75.00 for the day's work. (They are also paid $5 to attend a training session.)

On Election Day, student judges will check voters' registration status and activate voting machines to enable voters to cast their ballots. All students will be assigned to work with experienced election judges, so they don't have to worry about being inexperienced at the job. It's a "nuts and bolts" experience of democracy in action and is an excellent item for students to include on their resumes.

Working as student judges may also be a great fundraiser for clubs, teams and other high school organizations. If an organization's members commit to working on Election Day, those student judges can donate their pay to the organization.

The deadline to sign up Student Election Judges is September 16, 2002. If a student is old enough and has the school's approval all he or she has to do is fill out an application and return it to the principal or social studies teacher. The commission also needs an approval form from the school for each Student Judge. Forms may be faxed to the commission office or arrangements can be made to have the forms picked up.

Representatives of the Denver Election Commission will be visiting schools in the near future to distribute necessary forms for students interested in working at the polls on Nov. 5.

More information: call Alan McBeth, Denver Election Commission, at (720) 913-8686.