Graphic by Joseph Parillo, Graphic Designer
By Glacier Staff
The Cook County Clerk’s office hires high school and college students to helpoperate polling places across the county for every election. Morain students are eligible to apply for the position of Field Technician. Moraine Valley Community College has joined with the Cook County Clerk’s Office to offer a program that offers specialized training for Field Technicians for the March 17 Gubernatorial Primary Election. Community College students can earn $800 by participating in this program. The program offers 8 hours of coursework in Cybersecurity (2 hours/virtual) and Civics (6 hours/virtual) in addition to equipment training (4 hours/in person and additional online Election Judge Training) provided by the county. Working the election day shift beginning at 4:30 AM and ending as late as 11:00 PM is also required. Students must have access to a vehicle and cell phone and have the ability to navigate around a designated portion of the suburbs while visiting the assigned precincts.
Election day responsibilities (4:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.):
- Make sure voting begins in a timely way.
- Rapidly notify a coordinator of any problems.
- Provide written assessments of the Election Judge teams in specified precincts.
To apply online visit www.cookcountyclerk.com/CCwork.
This year marks midterm elections, named because they occur halfway through a presidential term. Primary elections are in March, and the General election is in November. Primaries narrow the field of candidates for offices and positions such as Representatives and Senators for the General election. All 435 members of the US House of Representatives are elected every two years. Senators are elected to six year terms. Senator Dick Durbin announced his resignation several months ago. Illinois will elect a new US Senator to replace him in 2026. We also will see members of the Illinois General Assembly elected to their respective offices, and the offices of Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller and more are also in their election cycle. Local municipalities may also have elections for mayors, board of trustees or council positions, and school boards.
Local elections are also important, and this is your chance to not only vote, but to see how the process of elections works first-hand, to be a part of ensuring free and fair elections.
