Troop 68 Scouts keep Election Night moving with long-standing service tradition

When the polls close on election night, the work is far from over. As ballot boxes and equipment begin arriving at the Wayne County Board of Elections, groups of community volunteers step up to help. This year members of Scout Troop 68 continued a longstanding tradition by unloading ballots from vehicles — an act that ensures election materials are handled quickly and securely.

Scoutmaster Mark White said the troop’s involvement goes back many years, with the Scouts rotating with Troop 61 to assist after every election.

“It’s a tradition that started long before my time,” he said. “It teaches the Scouts about service work, responsibility and accountability. They might not fully understand the importance of voting yet, but they’re learning what it means to support something that affects everyone.”

Beyond Election Day, Troop 68 stays busy serving the local community. They assist with downtown events such as Window Wonderland, help at their local church and hand out hot chocolate to visitors braving the cold.

White considers it a privilege to be a Scout leader and teach the values of Scouting.

“I get to watch these kids grow,” White said. “You see them come in young and then mature through the ranks — some even becoming Eagle Scouts — and, eventually, successful young adults who come back to visit. It’s really rewarding.”

Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.