Legislature approves measure easing rules on student volunteers at polling places

The Senate has passed the House version of a bill that would relax rules for students who volunteer at polling places.

HB 461, sponsored by Republican Rep. Kiyan Michael, says the ban on privately funded election-related expenses would not bar high school students who are registered or preregistered to vote from voluntarily helping poll workers in exchange for community service hours that apply to Bright Futures scholarships.

Students can preregister to vote once they turn 16.

The bill would take effect July 1, meaning that eligible students could begin participating in the process during the August Primaries this year if it becomes law.

The League of Women Voters and the Southern Poverty Law Center support the legislation.

Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough laid down the companion (SB 564) to take up the version previously passed by the House.

Yarborough previously told the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee that this bill, if passed, “will be one of the greatest firsthand civics lessons, which they can experience as they go along, of one of our greatest rights and what it takes to conduct elections.”

Michael told the House Government Operations Subcommittee the bill allowed students to volunteer on weekends, addressing a potential shortage of volunteers, driving engagement and teaching a “civic lesson.”

Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland spoke on behalf of the bill throughout the process.

He said his grandson was looking for community service opportunities, and said volunteering would help students understand the process and get “exposed” to the role and “maybe come back and be part of our team in the future.”

In his close, Yarborough acknowledged Holland as inspiring the bill.

“He said it best when we were in committee, he came to support the bill. He said, for students, it will be one of the greatest firsthand civic lessons in which they can experience one of our greatest rights and what it takes to conduct elections,” Yarborough said.