KIDS VOTING SOUTH DAKOTA

Shane Nordyke, PhD
Allene R. Chiesman Center for Democracy
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD 57069

OUR STORY

Kids Voting South Dakota (KVSD) is a comprehensive, K-12 curriculum-based program that prepares students to become educated, engaged citizens. In addition to teaching the importance of voting and the election process, students learn to be responsible decision-makers, a trait that carries over into adulthood. In fact, communities with a KVSD program show an eight to 15 percent higher adult voter turnout than those without it. Students learn about our democracy through hands-on, action-oriented classroom lessons along with community and family involvement. Activities may include at-home discussions, community projects and students voting at the polls with their parents. Our mission is to secure the future of democracy by preparing young people to be educated, engaged citizens.