I would like to acknowledge everyone who worked during the general election.

An Election Day for a poll worker begins the day before an election, when they set up and test the voting machines to be sure Election Day begins without incident. Then Election Day morning, the average poll worker wakes up about 4:30 a.m. to get started. The workers plan to work at least 12 hours, doing their best to create, with integrity, the space to hold a fair election

Traditionally, most poll workers have been retired senior citizens, but this year a fresh new group that came forward to work at the polls.

Students from all of Hammond's high schools filled poll worker positions, giving them firsthand experience of the election process, school community credits and, like the other poll workers, a check for their hard work.

I thank and acknowledge everyone for a job well done.

Phil Venecz, Hammond Democratic Chairman