With the United States midterm elections coming up November of 2018, election workers in Johnson County are needed.

De Soto High School students who are 16 and 17 years old are able to work elections.

Donald Hess lives in De Soto and has worked elections before.

He explains that the responsibilities of an election worker involve being present at the polling place and “greeting voters and making sure they know what they’re doing.”

Election workers also make sure voters know how to operate the voting machines.

If students choose to work at elections, they will earn $160 for training, practice and work.

Hess encourages students to try working elections.

“I think everybody ought to do it at least once just to really get the inside scoop on how it works,” Hess said.

Hess believes it would be a good idea for students to work elections and then they might decide that they like it and will hopefully help out again.

Hess said one benefit is that he got to meet a lot of interesting people, and he believes that it is important to go to the polls.

“We [Americans] have a great privilege in this country that many countries do not have. We had better not neglect that privilege if we want to maintain our freedoms,” Hess said.

Hess believes helping out in the voting process is a great way for students to get involved before they are old enough to vote.

According to Hess, the election worker’s day can be long, but it’s a good way to “pick up some quick cash.”

One thing that Hess is adamant about  is that the duty of all Americans is to vote and to encourage others to do the same.

If DHS students, or anyone in the Johnson County area, are interested in being an election worker, they can apply at jocoportal.org/apply.