FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – Over 270 Venango County poll workers, including 35 local high school students, are being trained this week for the upcoming November 8 election.

(Pictured above: Seasoned poll worker Sherry Miller, center, trains students and new hires on a voting machine.)

Around 40 poll workers attended the October 25 afternoon training session, led by Director of Elections Denise Jones. She will be teaching six other sessions throughout the week.

The session included training on pre-election preparations and how to calibrate the electronic voting machines.

This is the third year Venango County has hired high school student poll workers, which Jones said has made a positive impact on election day.

“I think it’s very beneficial (to students). You get to see the back end of an election to see what’s actually involved in it. It teaches you about all the rules and regulations,” Jones explained.

Students from Cranberry, Franklin, Oil City, and Rocky Grove have signed up to participate this year. Selected students will work at polling locations throughout the county and will either receive payment or community service hours for their time.

Jones said poll workers carry most of the responsibility during voting day and hopes everyone is prepared for November 8.

“I am praying that everything goes very smoothly. It is really up to (poll workers), and I want them to be familiar with the machines and procedures, so that on election day, they’re ready,” Jones stated.

Electronic ballot machines will be tested on November 4 prior to voting.

Venango County will have 48 polling locations open on November 8, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For more information on election day and polling locations, call 814-432-9512.