Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 7 - ELECTIONS (§§ 7-1-101 — 7-11-303) › Chapter 4 - BOARDS OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS AND OTHER ELECTION OFFICERS (§§ 7-4-101 — 7-4-306) › Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 7-4-101 — 7-4-124) › Section 7-4-116 - Election poll workers program for high school students

(a)
(1)
The county board of election commissioners may conduct a special election day program for high school students in one (1) or more polling places designated by the county board of election commissioners.
(2)
The high school students shall be selected by the county board of election commissioners in cooperation with the local high school principal, the local 4-H club, the local Boy Scouts of America club, the local Girl Scouts of the United States of America club, or any other local organization for youth designated by the county board of election commissioners.
(3)
(A)
A high school student selected for this program who has not reached his or her eighteenth birthday by the election day in which he or she is participating shall be called an election page.
(B)
A high school student selected for this program who has reached his or her eighteenth birthday by the election day in which he or she is participating and meets the qualifications in §
7-4-109
may be an election official.
(b)
The program shall:
(1)
Be designed to stimulate the students' interest in elections and registering to vote;
(2)
Provide assistance to the officers of election; and
(3)
Assist in the safe entry and exit of elderly voters and voters with disabilities from the polling place.
(c)
(1)
In this volunteer position, each student selected as an election page shall:
(A)
Be granted an additional excused absence from school while working as an election page;
(B)
Serve under the direct supervision of the election officials at his or her assigned polling place; and
(C)
Observe strict impartiality at all times.
(2)
If an election page has attended training provided by the county board of election commissioners, the election page may assist election officials with checking in voters, assisting voters with instructions regarding the operation of voting machines, guarding the ballot box, and other related duties.
(3)
An election page shall be in a volunteer position and shall not receive any compensation for performing his or her duties.
(4)
Before beginning any duties, an election page shall take, before an election official, the following oath:
"I, __________________, do swear that I will perform the duties of an election page of this election according to law and to the best of my abilities, and that I will studiously endeavor to prevent fraud, deceit, and abuse, and that I will not disclose how any voter shall have voted, unless required to do so as a witness in a judicial proceeding or a proceeding to contest an election."
(d)
Each student selected to be an election official shall:
(1)
Take the oath of the election officials in §
7-4-110
;
(2)
Serve under the supervision of the appropriate county board of election commissioners;
(3)
Observe strict impartiality at all times; and
(4)
Be granted an additional excused absence from school while working as an election official.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 328,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2013, No. 1322,§ 6, eff. 8/16/2013.
Amended by Act 2013, No. 1322,§ 5, eff. 8/16/2013.
Acts 2003, No. 242, § 1; 2005, No. 67, § 3; 2011, No. 1223, §§ 6, 7.