Arlington Hts. teen triplets work as election judges

Voters at Riley Elementary School in Arlington Heights may have thought they were seeing triple while voting on Election Day earlier this month.

They were seeing Mary, Theresa and Frances Ponicki, all 17 years old and juniors at Prospect High School.

Though the trio missed the cut off for voting by a few weeks, even under a new law allowing some 17 year olds to vote in the Illinois Primary, but that didn't stop them from participating in the election.

The triplets woke up at 4 a.m. March 18 to work a long day - voting hours were 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. - as election judges.

Their service cost them a full day of school, but they said their teachers were supportive of the girls doing their civic duty, and each one made sure to do a little homework between voters. While the three aren't planning careers in politics, they all said they are interested in learning more about it.

"It's important to be educated about current events," Frances said.