Grand Island twin brothers among youngest to run polls

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – The impact of elections usually goes beyond what is seen. In fact, what happens behind the scenes can have the biggest impact.

Twin brothers Wyatt and Grant Kohles worked — and managed — separate constituencies on Grand Island in this year’s general election.

The Kohles brothers are not new to the polls, however. They have been doing this for four years, with 2022 being their first as site managers.

Wyatt Kohles managed Precinct 6 and Grant Kohles managed Precinct 18. The brothers said they were driven by their passion for history and the civic process.

“Realizing it’s not that you get in, you get a box, you leave,” said Wyatt Kohles, polling officer for the Hall County elections. “There’s a whole series of steps and procedures to make sure people’s voices are heard. It was kind of, ‘Oh, I’d love to be a part of that. I would love to be in there and see how it works from the inside out as someone who does.

Along with the responsibility that comes with being a manager, the twins were also managing people twice their age. Four years ago, the brothers were handpicked by Hall County Elections Commissioner Tracy Overstreet because of what they attributed to their responsible attitude as young teenagers.

“Having two managers of a 20-year-old site is very rare,” Overstreet said. “I think it’s really helpful to have young, energetic people involved in the electoral process.”

This year, election workers ranged in age from 16 to 87, but only 7% were under 30. Wyatt Kohles said he liked working elections because of the social environment.

“Stay involved, learn and meet people, because it’s one of the best social environments I’ve been to on a regular basis,” he said. “Even if it’s not often, it’s still regular. I can go out and meet people even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Wyatt Kohles said he appreciates that everyone’s perspectives are unique and that’s something he values ​​about running the polling site.

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