California is actively recruiting high school students as young as 16 including lawful permanent residents who are not U.S. citizens to serve as poll workers in the November 2026 general election. These noncitizen teenagers are authorized to issue ballots, assist voters, operate election equipment, and perform key administrative duties inside polling places and vote centers.
The program is not hidden or unofficial. It is backed by state law and promoted directly by California’s top election and education officials.
Who Is Eligible?
According to a June 30, 2026, joint letter from California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond:
“High school students who are at least 16 years of age, are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, and maintain a 2.5 grade point average are eligible to serve as poll workers.”
Los Angeles County’s official Student Election Worker Program explicitly lists eligibility as:
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• At least 16 years old
• U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder)
• Minimum 2.5 GPA
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• Parental/guardian and teacher consent
• Completion of training
Similar programs operate in counties including Kern, Riverside, and others. Students can earn stipends (e.g., up to $100+ per day in some counties, plus bilingual bonuses) and receive excused absences from school. lavote.gov
What Duties Can They Perform?
Student poll workers are not limited to minor or ceremonial roles. County documents describe them performing many of the same tasks as adult poll workers:
• Setting up and breaking down voting equipment
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• Issuing ballots to voters
• Checking voters off official rosters
• Assisting voters throughout the day (including those with limited English proficiency)
• Completing election paperwork
• Preparing ballot cartridges/cartridges for transport
• Closing polling locations and securing equipment
California law (Elections Code § 12302) allows up to five student workers per precinct and specifically permits students who are not eligible to vote. However, they are prohibited from tallying or counting votes.
Legal Background
The current framework stems from earlier legislation:
• Assembly Bill 817 (2013) expanded roles for adult lawful permanent residents.
• Assembly Bill 554 (2015) extended similar access to high school students.
The legislative intent, as noted in analyses at the time, was to give lawful permanent residents “experience with American democracy firsthand” and address bilingual needs in polling places.
A 2024 post-election report from the Secretary of State’s office highlighted recruitment of 1,095 lawful permanent residents and 2,978 bilingual students as poll workers. It “strongly encourages” counties to expand these efforts through partnerships with schools and advocacy groups for future elections, including 2026. nataliegwinters.substack.com
Why This Matters
Critics argue that allowing noncitizens— even legal ones—into the physical administration of elections raises concerns about oversight, chain-of-custody for ballots, and public trust, especially since these workers handle sensitive materials in a process where only citizens can vote.
Supporters and election officials frame it as a civic education opportunity that helps address poll worker shortages and improves language access for voters.
The program has operated for years with little public controversy until recent attention on the 2026 cycle.
Key Takeaways
• Noncitizen students must be lawful permanent residents (green card holders) — not undocumented or temporary visa holders.
• They cannot vote.
• They perform real election-day tasks but cannot count votes.
• The program is statewide policy, promoted by the Secretary of State and Department of Education.
• Counties are actively recruiting for the November 3, 2026, General Election.
For the latest official information, check your county registrar of voters or the California Secretary of State’s poll worker resources.
This development comes as California continues to expand access to its election system amid ongoing debates over voter integrity, noncitizen participation, and the role of minors in civic processes.
Sources: Official joint letter from CA Secretary of State and State Superintendent (June 30, 2026), county election websites (LA, Kern, Riverside), California Elections Code, and post-election reports from the Secretary of State’s office.
