For years, Guilford County Schools has been offering field trips to the polls for students who are eligible to vote.
On Tuesday, a school bus carrying a small group of 18-year-old students pulled up to a voting site at Guilford Technical Community College. With permission from their parents, these Western Guilford High School teens took a field trip with their classmates to vote during the school day. Richard Rock was one of them.
“I just wanted to see how it was," Rock said. "Like, this is my first time doing it, so I just really wanted to see what the experience is like.”
Rock registered and voted in a matter of minutes. He says it was much simpler than he expected.
“It was pretty easy," Rock said. "Like, before, I didn't know where to register, or what to sign and stuff like that.”
His classmate, Christian Douglas, was surprised to vote using paper ballots rather than computers. He shared what issues were on his mind in this election.
“Mostly just stuff like equality, equity and stuff like that," Douglas said.
Douglas says he hopes he inspires his peers to vote too.
“I think it's very important to come out here, make a change, you know, implement yourself into history," Douglas said.
Western’s Assistant Principal Arthur Fleming says his school is working to teach students about the voting process and democracy in class. The field trips make it real for them.
“I think it gives the kids an opportunity to make what they're learning about civics come to life," Fleming said. "And so I really support what they're doing, and I hope they continue it, I think it’s been great.”
Right outside the doors to the voting site, the students cheered for one another as they cast their ballots and emerged with “I voted” stickers.
Early voting continues through Saturday at 3 p.m. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.