Students take over the polling station: 'You earn something and help democracy'

"You have to be there on time," says student Jesse (23) from Leiden. "They're really on top of things in student cities. Everyone knows you can make some money from it, so those spots go quickly."

He registered through the municipal website and this year, for the first time, got involved: working at a polling station. "I enjoy giving democracy a helping hand. You really contribute to how the process works."

According to him, the work is popular in his area. "I know people from my studies and housemates who also do it. It's actually always been quite popular among students. In smaller towns, I've heard that it's actually harder to find people; it's much harder there. We don't have that problem here."

More young faces after corona

The municipality of Leiden is also seeing this trend. Of the approximately 750 polling station staff in the city, a quarter are under 25. "The real shift occurred after the pandemic. Many older polling station staff dropped out, and the new recruits were much younger," says a spokesperson for the municipality of Leiden.

Maastricht and Delft are also recognizing this wave. "Financial compensation will certainly play a role for this target group, but we're also increasingly seeing social engagement among the city's young residents."

Jasmine (24) from Utrecht is also now working as an experienced polling station worker. "I've already participated in two elections, this will be my third," she says. "I thought it would be fun: a day's work and you're doing something for democracy."

"I think students mostly have a lot of time and little money," she jokes. "But I was recently talking to my housemates who also do this: they would do it even if they weren't paid. Half a day, maybe."

Municipalities respond to students

To get young people excited, student cities like Leiden, Utrecht, and Delft are actively raising their profile. Polling stations are located at universities of applied sciences, universities of applied sciences, and even at the student associations Minerva (Leiden) and Virgiel (Delft). The municipalities also organize student elections, information sessions at schools, and send letters to eighteen-year-olds when they are eligible to vote for the first time.

The government is also trying to recruit young people nationally. With campaigns like "Polling Station Boss," the Ministry of the Interior encourages young people to sign up as polling station members. The campaign, which is primarily run through social media, appeals to young people with the message that they're not just working part-time, but are also literally helping to build democracy.

Small side job, big impact

What started as a handy side hustle seems to have grown into a small tradition: students overseeing the counting, tallying, and voting, thereby keeping democracy running smoothly. And Jesse, the student himself, notices this too: "It's just great to be right in the middle of that process for a day. To contribute my bit."

The polling station closes, and an estimate of the result immediately follows. How does an exit poll work? You can see it below: