Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Princeton Student-Athletes Assist Poll Hero Project
August 13, 2020 | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Soccer
NBC News Story On Poll Hero
PRINCETON, N.J. – A group of Princeton student-athletes, co-founded by men's basketball rising senior Ryan Schwieger and women's soccer sophomore Ella Gantman, will be working to make the 2020 election possible this November through their involvement with the Poll Hero Project. The duo have helped bring more Princeton student-athletes into the fold, including sophomore Ben Bograd from men's soccer.
"The Poll Hero Project is an all-volunteer organization with the sole purpose of recruiting more young people to work the polls on election day," said Schwieger, a co-founder of the organization. "The majority of poll workers are older Americans, who are at a greater risk of Covid-19 complications. We are solving this problem by recruiting young people to become poll workers, ensuring polling stations are open and everybody can exercise their right to vote."
Schwieger and those involved were inspired by Princeton staff member Laura Wooten, a Wu dining hall employee who passed away this past year. Wooten was the longest working poll worker in American history. The Princeton student-athletes have joined with fellow Princeton students Kennedy Mattes '23, Eric Periman '22, James Lee '23, and Kai Tsurumaki '23 to help honor Wooten's legacy.
"The Poll Hero Project was founded by a group of students from Princeton, Denver East High School, and one University of Chicago Business School grad," said Schwieger. "Ironically, we started our work earlier this summer by promoting federal funding for Vote-By-Mail. As the window for that ran out, we pivoted to making voting in person more accessible by recruiting poll workers."
Sophomorre Ella Gantman of the women's soccer team also stressed the importance of this initiative.
"I think the Poll Hero Project is critically important because it provides young people with a tangible way to protect and serve our democracy," said Gantman. "Polling stations around the nation are shutting down due to a deficit of poll workers which can lead to voter suppression. As a young person, this project is offering a sense of ownership and accountability in our democracy. It is time for young people to step up and I urge all to do so. Poll heroes make elections possible."
Getting involved with the Poll Hero Project is easy.
"You can get involved by signing up on our website," explained Schwieger. "Even if you are unsure whether you can actually work the polls on November 3, you could still help out by spreading the word and sharing this opportunity with your friends."
PRINCETON, N.J. – A group of Princeton student-athletes, co-founded by men's basketball rising senior Ryan Schwieger and women's soccer sophomore Ella Gantman, will be working to make the 2020 election possible this November through their involvement with the Poll Hero Project. The duo have helped bring more Princeton student-athletes into the fold, including sophomore Ben Bograd from men's soccer.
"The Poll Hero Project is an all-volunteer organization with the sole purpose of recruiting more young people to work the polls on election day," said Schwieger, a co-founder of the organization. "The majority of poll workers are older Americans, who are at a greater risk of Covid-19 complications. We are solving this problem by recruiting young people to become poll workers, ensuring polling stations are open and everybody can exercise their right to vote."
Schwieger and those involved were inspired by Princeton staff member Laura Wooten, a Wu dining hall employee who passed away this past year. Wooten was the longest working poll worker in American history. The Princeton student-athletes have joined with fellow Princeton students Kennedy Mattes '23, Eric Periman '22, James Lee '23, and Kai Tsurumaki '23 to help honor Wooten's legacy.
"The Poll Hero Project was founded by a group of students from Princeton, Denver East High School, and one University of Chicago Business School grad," said Schwieger. "Ironically, we started our work earlier this summer by promoting federal funding for Vote-By-Mail. As the window for that ran out, we pivoted to making voting in person more accessible by recruiting poll workers."
Sophomorre Ella Gantman of the women's soccer team also stressed the importance of this initiative.
"I think the Poll Hero Project is critically important because it provides young people with a tangible way to protect and serve our democracy," said Gantman. "Polling stations around the nation are shutting down due to a deficit of poll workers which can lead to voter suppression. As a young person, this project is offering a sense of ownership and accountability in our democracy. It is time for young people to step up and I urge all to do so. Poll heroes make elections possible."
Getting involved with the Poll Hero Project is easy.
"You can get involved by signing up on our website," explained Schwieger. "Even if you are unsure whether you can actually work the polls on November 3, you could still help out by spreading the word and sharing this opportunity with your friends."
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