It's a long-standing election day tradition at a Lackawanna County school, but this year the tradition had to be tweaked a bit to keep things legal.
Students lined up patiently Tuesday at the Clarks Green Municipal building in Lackawanna County. Tyler Hillson, 5, said while this is a big part of their election day lesson, it's not a difficult one.
"I didn't really have to vote, I just watched Ms. Arcangelo do stuff," Tyler explained.
Teacher Chris Arcangelo said she's been bringing classes from St. Gregory's Early Childhood School there for 13 years but during the last election, county election officials said bringing a group of children inside the polling place is illegal. Arcangelo would have to make a change or the students would have to stay outside.
"I really wanted the kids to come and do this because I've been doing it for so long and it's so important for the kids to see the voting process. We've been having so much fun doing it, I didn't want it to end," Arcangelo said.
Lackawanna County Director of Elections Maryann Spellman Young said while she thinks bringing the children to the polls is a great idea, she still has to uphold Pennsylvania's election law, which hasn't changed in decades.
"The law is very specific to being poll workers, poll watchers, and the voters themselves," said Spellman Young.
Parents were relieved when a compromise was reached. All students had a permission slip from a parent, plus an adult escort.
Tyler's mother, Heather Hillson said, "So to have them not be able to go inside the building, I don't think it would have had the impact as going in and see the curtain close behind them and write on the ballot who they want to vote for."
Election officials and Chris Arcangelo hope to convince state lawmakers to change the law so more children can see the voting process in action.
Students lined up patiently Tuesday at the Clarks Green Municipal building in Lackawanna County. Tyler Hillson, 5, said while this is a big part of their election day lesson, it's not a difficult one.
"I didn't really have to vote, I just watched Ms. Arcangelo do stuff," Tyler explained.
Teacher Chris Arcangelo said she's been bringing classes from St. Gregory's Early Childhood School there for 13 years but during the last election, county election officials said bringing a group of children inside the polling place is illegal. Arcangelo would have to make a change or the students would have to stay outside.
"I really wanted the kids to come and do this because I've been doing it for so long and it's so important for the kids to see the voting process. We've been having so much fun doing it, I didn't want it to end," Arcangelo said.
Lackawanna County Director of Elections Maryann Spellman Young said while she thinks bringing the children to the polls is a great idea, she still has to uphold Pennsylvania's election law, which hasn't changed in decades.
"The law is very specific to being poll workers, poll watchers, and the voters themselves," said Spellman Young.
Parents were relieved when a compromise was reached. All students had a permission slip from a parent, plus an adult escort.
Tyler's mother, Heather Hillson said, "So to have them not be able to go inside the building, I don't think it would have had the impact as going in and see the curtain close behind them and write on the ballot who they want to vote for."
Election officials and Chris Arcangelo hope to convince state lawmakers to change the law so more children can see the voting process in action.
