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Students Hit the Polls as a Classroom

By: Cassidy Hodges

Updated: October 30, 2012

Students in Springdale are coming out of the classroom to come in and early vote

"Our voting system doesn't work unless we get everybody to vote," Daniel Forsberg, a Senior at Springdale High School.

At 18 years old, these kids understand the trip is a privilege.

"This is our first time voting and it's nice to do it with our voting class," says Forsberg.

Like all new things, there's strength in numbers.

"I think if they have a good experience the first time voting then they'll remember that and they'll be glad to vote each time," says Betty Andrews, a volunteer at the polling location in Springdale.

But the process wasn't quite what Forsberg expected.

"It was a little different. I imagined filling out a hand ballot over and over again."

And it was obviously these students' first time.

"There's more excitement with them, you know if you've done this before you're excited, but not first time excited and they were they did very very well," says Andrews.

The excitement is something poll volunteers are encouraged to see.

"I think it's great that the school gives them the opportunity to come in and vote in mass," says Andrews.

A bus ride that educators hope is only a beginning.

"If they do it now hopefully they'll stay involved in the future and who knows some of the students going with us today may themselves be candidates," says Lynn Waldren

Social Studies Department Chair at Springdale High School.

"I felt like me and all my peers were able to make a small difference and all of our voices were heard," says Forsberg.

Speaking their mind is something that will only continue at Springdale High School.

"Hopefully our younger peers realize how important it is when their time comes," says Forsberg.

Only 11 students came out Tuesday to cast a ballot, but teachers are hoping for even more in 2016.

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