The next generation of voters received a close up look at the voting process during Tuesday’s presidential election. 

Though too young to cast their own ballots, parents and school teachers brought youngsters out to the polls to give them a firsthand view of democracy. 

Students watch voters cast their ballots. — Ray Ewing

Chilmark School teacher Jackie Guzalak ushered about 20 fourth and fifth graders into the Chilmark Community Center around 10:45 a.m., to observe the vote.

“We’re going to be quiet because there’s a bunch of people voting and concentrating,” Chilmark town clerk Jen Christy said as she welcomed the students. 

Ms. Christy explained the voting process, from how residents check in to when they drop their ballot in the box, overseen by constable Marshall Carroll. 

“Once they vote, they have to take their ballot to the Chilmark ballot box in the back, which dings [when a ballot goes in],” she added. “Everytime it makes a ding, the number dial on the front advances one.” 

Ms. Guzalak does an election project with her class every four years. Going to see democracy in action is a great supplement, she said. Kids asked questions about how the ballot box is reset, if ballots stack up neatly when they go in and how they count mail-in ballots. 

“All of those questions, we did not rehearse anything and it was all natural curiosity and I attribute that to Chilmark School [which] does a good job of exposing kids to situations,” Ms. Guzalak said. “We do a lot of inquisitive work in the classroom and it was helpful to be right there in the moment. They were engaged and it was great to see real-time learning.”

Election day was a family affair for many parents. — Ray Ewing

Some kids even lent a hand in the voting process. In Tisbury, Nicole Shirley arrived with her six-year-old son, Cecil Hinshaw. Cecil helped Mom prepare for the vote by writing out her ballot question choices in his best first-grade handwriting.

“He made a little voting guide for me,” Ms. Shirley said, as Cecil beamed. 

At the polls in neighboring West Tisbury, resident Jennifer Cronin was joined by her 10-year-old daughter Eliza. Ms. Cronin felt it was important to familiarize kids with the democratic process. 

“I brought my daughter to the polls so she can have that experience to see it happen,” Ms. Cronin said. “If kids don’t see that starting at a young age they might be intimidated as they are older. It’s a very stressful election. There’s a lot of anxiety and excitement around it, but bringing my daughter was top of my mind.” 

Louisa Hufstader contributed to this report.