It was a field trip to the polls, so to speak, for two Lehighton Area High School students.

While the majority of their classmates spent the day learning in the classroom, seniors Anna Howland and Savanna Wehr spent Tuesday learning the ins and outs on how the voting process works.

That’s because Anna and Savanna were afforded the chance to be assigned to a voting poll on Election Day by way of their AP U.S. History teacher Jen Lobasso.

“I kind of get to observe the process, learn more what’s going into the election, and all the official processes they have to go through,” Anna said. “At the beginning I was kind of meeting people, and I’ve been helping people go through the names.”

Anna said she arrived at 6:45 a.m. at Lehighton American Legion Post 314. She planned to be there until around 8 p.m.

“It’s a nice way to get out in the community for the day,” Anna said. “In school, we learned about the process of voting, but not about the process of going to the polls.”

Anna said she learned a lot from the experience, and added that if the opportunity presented itself again, she would probably do it.

“Because I can’t vote, it’s a way I feel involved with government without being able to vote,” she said. “I’m very interested in politics and government.”

Anna, who is the daughter of high school Principal Suzanne Howland and Dr. William Howland, said she’s applied to several schools to pursue a degree in accounting.

Savanna also was able to take part in the process at The Orioles.

Lobasso said it’s important for students to learn about the voting process.

“I think it’s important as a social studies teacher to explain the Electoral College process,” Lobasso said. “We’re trying to teach kids the difference between the popular vote and the Electoral College vote (which) is essential because that’s how we vote for president.”

Lobasso said they spent some time showing a map of how many electoral votes are in each state so students understand how their votes counted, as well as how it contributed to Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes.

“Even to explain when polls close, just to kind of explain how the whole process works, you have to kind of seize the moment as a social studies teacher to say, ‘Hey, this is the kind of stuff you need to know to be a good citizen,’ ” she said.

Lobasso said she’s glad both Anna and Savanna were able to experience what it’s like to be at the polls on Election Day.

“Different people vote at different times in person, speak about mail-in ballots, early voting,” she said. “It was a great opportunity for both of them; you only get to experience it (presidential election) once in your high school year.”

Lobasso said the two students were deserving of the opportunity.

“They are amazing girls,” she said. “To take an AP U.S. History class, you have to be a critical thinker, you have to be an outstanding writer, and you have to be the kind of kids who are going to take a day off school to go be a part of the election process.”