In an election cycle plagued by violence and misinformation, it can be difficult to navigate the intricacies of American politics. In anticipation of Election Day on Nov. 5, several M-A students have taken this challenge head-on, joining political campaigns and working at polls to learn more about government and make their voices heard.
After learning about Sam Liccardo’s campaign for District 16’s congressional seat, junior Niklas Klemmer quickly applied to be an unpaid intern. He works as a canvasser, knocking on people’s doors and advertising for about six hours a week. “I’ve gotten to talk to some really interesting people. Some of my proudest moments have been when I met someone who wasn’t intending to vote, but I got to change their mind,” he said.
Through his internship, Klemmer aspires to learn the behind-the-scenes of campaigning and gain more work skills. “I really hope to get a hands-on experience in politics, see what it’s all about, and get my hands dirty,” he said.
For Klemmer, the most rewarding part of interning has been getting to know voters. “I hope to become more connected with my community and in tune with the concerns and political needs of people in San Mateo County and District 16,” he said.
“I really do recommend getting involved in political campaigns if you can, whether it be for mayor, for school board, or even for Congress. They’re really valuable experiences in ways that young people don’t often recognize,” Klemmer said.
Like Klemmer, junior Evan Yang is an unpaid intern for Liccardo’s campaign. Yang puts in 12 hours a week canvassing, doing office work, and phone banking.
Yang joined the campaign with little knowledge of Liccardo’s positions. “At first, I didn’t resonate with him that much, and I didn’t look into his policies. I saw it more as a means of getting my voice out there so that I could make a change,” he said.
“I don’t really have a political view right now. I don’t want to have any opinions. I just want to experience more,” he added.
But now, Yang explained, his work has helped him gain an appreciation for Liccardo’s policies. “Initially, I just saw it more as a means of getting my voice out there, but now his policies interest me, he said.
Through canvassing, Yang has had some memorable interactions. “One guy brought out his golf club at me,” he said.
Yang recommends campaigning to students who “want to see change in your local community.”
In the future, Yang hopes to build off his experience with Liccardo and campaign for future presidential candidates.
Instead of campaigning, senior Meghan Lam got involved with local elections by working at the polls. Though she was initially motivated to be a pollster for extra credit in her AP U.S. History class, Lam learned a lot from the experience. “It was nice for me to gain a greater perspective of what happens in our society and how our government systems work,” she said.
Despite having no future political aspirations, Lam woke up at 5 a.m. and worked for 16 hours during the 2024 primary elections.
“It was really cool to see how every ballot was handled with care and had to be packed up nicely to ensure that the voting process is secure and fair,” she said.
Even if you can’t vote, you can be politically involved by campaigning or volunteering. To sign up to be a poll worker you can submit an application here.
