The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November is an exciting time for American adults, as they get to cast their votes for the next elected officials of the country. The most recent election in 2016 decided who the next President would be. For young adults on the cusp of legal adulthood, Election Day can feel strange, since they may feel they are not involved in the political process. Every year, Rockbridge seniors volunteer at polling stations throughout the county in order to get more involved with the political process.

This recent opportunity was offered to all seniors; however, it was mostly government students that took part. Seniors could volunteer to check voters into polling stations, help set up and clean up polling stations, and to give out stickers to voters.

Senior Oishani Basu volunteered at a polling station in Lexington to familiarize herself with the political process.

“I decided it would be a good experience. I would get to see how the process works, how the sausage is made, if you catch my drift,” she said. “I liked seeing all of the people I knew come through. I got to talk to a lot of people.”

Senior Foster Friedman, son of Mayor Elect Frank Friedman, also volunteered, at a polling station in Vesuvius.

“Since I’m not old enough to vote, I wanted to participate in the election process somehow so I thought that volunteering at a poll would allow me to do that,” he said. “It was a great experience. You need to be patient if you’re running the polls and understand that some people may not grasp the concept of voting as easily, and may vote for two presidential candidates on accident. I’m just happy to be able to participate in the American process,” said Friedman.