At this Mayfair high school, Philly teens take over Election Day polling place

Election Day means no school for the Philadelphia School District, but this year, more than 100 students from Lincoln High School in Mayfair showed up at 6 a.m. to work the polls. The youth poll worker effort began in 2022 with eight students with learning disabilities. The number of students had grown to 35 when WHYY News visited for the 2024 primary election, and now, there are three times as many. Over the years, as students recruited friends and alumni returned for the day, the teen takeover of Lincoln’s polling site has become a beloved school tradition. Science and special education teacher Sarah Caswell leads the workers and said inclusivity has been key to growing their ranks. The students cover every imaginable ability, grade point average, language, culture and political affiliation, or lack thereof, she said. Caswell said that during the school day, students are often separated by academic ability level, honors and Advanced Placement, deaf and hard of hearing, autistic suppo