What is Kids Voting?
It's unique, it's fun and it
works! Kids Voting combines dynamic, hands-on civics activities with an
authentic voting experience to get students involved and ready to be active
citizens.
Kids Voting, a yearlong non-partisan nonprofit program, teaches
kindergarten - 12th grade students about citizenship, civic participation
and the election process through standards-based classroom lessons,
community civics activities, interaction with public officials, service
learning and authentic election experiences.
Education is the power behind Kids Voting. Kids Voting's multi-disciplinary
classroom activities provide teachers and youth leaders with tools to
support K-12 academic achievement. Students learn about decision-making,
gathering information, evaluating the candidates and how the election
process works. They study the candidates and issues, interact with public
officials, attend debates and keep track of current events. Community
experiences compliment and reinforce classroom learning.
How It All Started
In 1988, three businessmen from
Arizona traveled to Costa Rica on a fishing trip. During their visit they
learned that the country’s voter turnout is typically around 90 percent.
This high turnout was attributed to a tradition of children accompanying
their parents to the polls. The men were intrigued by the idea, but also
recognized a missing link to education. They launched a school-based pilot
project in a Phoenix suburb that has since grown into the national Kids
Voting USA organization.
In 1992, Kids Voting was launched in North Carolina through the enthusiasm
and support of the Charlotte Observer and others in the business, education
and civic community. Since then, Kids Voting Mecklenburg has developed to
become the leading K-12 civic education program in the Charlotte area. Kids
Voting in North Carolina now includes 21 community programs including those
in the
Charlotte,
Triangle,
Triad,
Asheville/Western NC,
Hickory, Wilmington/Eastern
NC and
Fayetteville areas.
Why should kids vote?
Kids Voting helps to develop and
hone important character traits in young people, and equips youth with
skills needed for adulthood. While some students may never need to solve a
quadratic equation after graduating from high school, knowing about civic
life, how to vote responsibly and the necessity of community involvement
will prove valuable for a lifetime. Kids Voting impacts the future of
democracy directly, by encouraging young citizens to actively participate in
our community.
Kids Voting establishes lifelong habits of civic engagement and responsible
voting. The entire community benefits.
How does Kids Voting impact our community?
Civic
involvement is key to a community's vitality and success. Kids Voting plays
a critical role in developing strong communities. By continually encouraging
young people toward active civic participation - through volunteerism,
interaction with public officials, interest in current events and issues as
well as voting and other means of civic engagement - Kids Voting directly
impacts our community and its future.
Additionally, national research shows that Kids Voting helps to close gaps
among students from lower socioeconomic families and
neighborhoods. Students gain an interest in and knowledge about government
and civic life, and take that home to encouraging family discussions and
increased parental involvement. This creates an important "civic bonding" of
family, school and community and results in a more level playing field in
student tests as well as a more informed electorate.
Who participates in Kids Voting in the Charlotte area?
- 200+ public, independent and religious schools, homeschool groups and youth
programs
- 6,000 classrooms
- 145,000 students
- 190 neighborhood polling sites
- 3,000 volunteers
Kids Voting is available to every K-12 student. Contact
Kids Voting to find out how to involve
your school, your student or yourself!