1. a. The Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Elections in the Department of State, shall develop guidelines for a program to allow a student enrolled in an institution of higher education to earn academic credit for an undergraduate degree program for each full shift that the student serves as a poll worker during an election held in the State.

b. An institution of higher education may award and apply towards an undergraduate degree program academic credit to an enrolled student for each full shift of service that the student serves as a poll worker during an election held in the State. An institution that determines to allow a student to receive academic credit for service as a poll worker, following an evaluation and determination by the institution that the credit is in alignment with the educational and programmatic mission of the institution, shall comply with the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

c. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the student from receiving pay commensurate with other poll workers not receiving academic credit. Neither the program nor any participating institution of higher education shall require that the student forego such pay in order to receive academic credit.

L.2022, c.40.