GREENSBORO -- During early voting season, sites across Guilford County are getting a lot of help from about 50 area college students working the polls.

This year, the Election Assistance Commission awarded Greensboro College with a federal grant from for a College Poll Worker Program.

The grant money goes mainly to pay the students’ $10 per hour salaries, but most students say they are in it for the experience.

“I just love doing this. I love interacting with people and I love seeing people come out and vote," said Dan Jimenez, a senior at Guilford College.

Tim Tsujii, early voting director for the Guilford County Board of Elections, said the work is a great opportunity for students.

“You know you've got young talent, educated students that are willing to work and they're definitely interested in the political process, so this is great exposure for them," said Tim Tsujii, Early Voting Director for the Guilford County Board of Elections.

Traditionally manned by an older generation, election officials say they can’t help but notice the new skill set the students are bringing to the voting booth.

"They're very computer savvy, which is very helpful because we use computers. We use E-poll books at all of our polling places, so most of our current poll workers automatically send the college poll workers directly to the computers and have them checking the voters," said Tsujii.

“This is a brand new system, this is electronic, touch screen, and a lot of these people are elderly, so they don't really know how to use it, give them a step by step," said Jimenez.

This is the only program of its kind in the state. It was piloted in Guilford County during the 2006 election when about 20 students worked the polls.