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How KIDS VOTING got started in Chester
County
In the spring of 1996, then Chester County Commissioner Karen Martynick
read an article about KIDS Voting USA and brought it to the attention
of
the
Chester County Commissioners.
The Commissioners in turn contacted the Chester
County Intermediate Unit. Together, the two organizations contacted
members of the community and KIDS VOTING - Chester County was formed
and
introduced to the schools and communities of Chester County. During the
1996 and 2000 KIDS VOTING - Chester County election nearly 48,000
students turned
out to vote.
In Spring 2004, the Chester County Intermediate Unit
was selected as one of five sites nationwide to pilot the KIDS VOTING
online voting project. In November 2004, Chester County's 86,000
public and non-public school students will have the opportunity to
vote on-line in the 2004 presidential election.
How it Began in the United States
In 1988, three businessmen from Arizona traveled to Costa Rica on a fishing
trip and caught much more than fish! The big catch was the precursor to
Kids Voting USA.
These three founders of Kids Voting learned that voter turnout is routinely
90 percent in Costa Rica - the highest voter turnout rate in the western
hemisphere!
Why? How?
Voting is mandated by law in Costa Rica, however, this is not enforced.
Instead, Costa Ricans attribute this high voter turnout to their tradition
of children accompanying mom and dad to the polls. Youths learn early
the importance of voting in a democracy. As a result, Costa Ricans believe
their form of government is well preserved for the future.
Kids Voting USA
Today, Kids Voting USA is unique, the only program of its kind that enables
students to visit official polling sites on election day, accompanied
by parent or guardian, to cast a ballot similar in content to the official
ballot. Kids Voting USA teaches youth -- through a special curriculum,
family participation and community involvement -- the importance of being
informed and the responsibilities of voting.
Kids Voting USA Scope
The Kids Voting USA Network of state organizations is growing fast, presently
reaching:
- 40 states plus the District of Columbia
- 5 million students
- 200,000 teachers
- 6,000 schools
- 100,000 volunteers
- 16,000 voter precincts.
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