Kids Voting USA » Affiliate News

High School Seniors Participate in Voting Process; 10,000 Since 2005

Rachel Willis — Thu, 09 May 2013 02:49:47 +0000

Since the initial Pilot Program in November of 2005, more than 10,000 high school seniors have helped Central Ohio voters as part of the Youth at the Booth program. In partnership with the Franklin County Board of Elections, Kids Voting of Central Ohio operates the Youth at the Booth program which recruits, trains, and places 17- and 18-year old high school seniors as official poll workers each election.

Jeff Cabot, executive director of Kids Voting of Central Ohio, said, “This is real, hands on experience in democracy. The students constitute a talented workforce for conducting the election and get an important lesson in civics that is highly valued by educators.”

According to Suzanne Helmick, founding Director of Kids Voting, “when we began the program, students had to be 18 years old to work at the polls. But we worked with area legislators and students from Columbus Alternative High School to amend the law.” The state law was changed in 2006 to permit 17-year old high school seniors to serve as official Precinct Election Officials in Ohio.
The students are recruited through the Kids Voting partnership from all Franklin County school districts and trained as Machine Judges to operate the voting machines used in Franklin County. They are paid the same as adult poll workers and work the same long day – 5:30 a.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m.

William Anthony, director of the Franklin County Board of Elections said, “Our experience with the student poll workers has been very positive. They are an essential part of our operation.”

Dana Walch, deputy director of the Franklin County Board of Elections, observed that “Youth at the Booth students are likely to remain involved in the political process, so this program provides a next generation of poll workers and active voters.”
Kids Voting now works with the Delaware County Board of Elections as well.

“This is a significant milestone in our work to grow the next generation of active, informed citizens. Look for the white Youth at the Booth tee shirts at your polling place on Election Day,” Cabot concluded, “and congratulate them on their initiative and performance of a civic duty.”

Grand Junction City Council Candidate Forum a Success!

Rachel Willis — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:46:06 +0000

On Thursday, March 7, Kids Voting hosted a Candidate Forum for Grand Junction City Council candidates. Nine of the ten City Council candidates participated in this event, which was open to the public , recorded by Rocky Mountain PBS and broadcast on Channel 12. Students were the key players in managing this candidate forum. They researched ballot issues, prepared questions for the candidates, and served as forum moderators and time keepers. We would like to recognize the following students for the time and effort they devoted to making the forum a success:
* Marshae Willis, Victor Dominquez, DJ Klinger, and Shaquille Wes-ton (Grand Mesa High School and Collbran Job Corps)
* Cyn-Dee Chaney and Deserae McDermott (R5 High School)
* Caleb Kostreva (home schooled)
* Wade Toothaker (Fruita Monument High School), who is also a Student Board Member serving on our Board of Directors.
* Zoë Wright-Ray (Grand Junction High School), also on our Board of Directors

Candidate forums like this one provide an opportunity for students to experience democracy in action. Kids Voting Mesa County was proud to sponsor this event and thanks the City of Grand Junction and Rocky Mt. PBS for their roles in supporting this effort.

KV SD Raises Nearly $13,000 at Liberty Basketball Game Fundraiser

Rachel Willis — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:43:27 +0000

The Chiesman Center for Democracy, Inc., held the 16th Annual Kids Voting South Dakota Liberty Basketball Game and Taco Feed. The event took place on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at Riggs High School in Pierre, South Dakota. The evening began at 5:30 pm with the Taco Feed with Legislators, Tacos for Top Dogs sponsored by Coca Cola and Taco Johns of Pierre. The game tip-off was promptly at 7 pm. The game is a major fundraiser for Kids Voting South Dakota. The members of the House of Representatives faced off with the members of the Senate in a fun yet challenging game of basketball. There was a free throw event for students and every participating student left with a prize! In conjunction with the basketball game and taco feed they conducted both live and silent auction.

The Liberty Basketball Game, is the major fundraiser for Kids Voting South Dakota, raised nearly $13,000. Wes Brown, the communications manager said, “Thanks to the Legislators, this was a record year for us, raising 4,000 more this year than in previous years, we are thankful for all their help.” The funds raised during this event are extremely important to develop and sustain the resources we offer to schools and teachers across the state. This support helps to ensure that our youth continue to learn about the importance of voting and our government, along with opportunities to practice what it means to be an active and responsible citizen.

The major program sponsors include, South Dakota Rural Electric Association and Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, The Chiesman Center for Democracy, Inc., and Curriculum sponsor, East River Electric.

Youth Council Tours Board of Election

Rachel Willis — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:57:58 +0000

The Kids Voting Central Youth Council toured the Franklin County Board of Elections (BOE) on February 21, where they were welcomed by Director William Anthony. They were given an overview of the board’s work serving the 800,000 registered voters in the county. Deputy Director Dana Walch then led them on a tour where they observed the system for preparing and mailing the 175,000 – 200,000 mail-in absentee ballots the board processes in a general election. The board’s state-of-the-art equipment was impressive. Both Mr. Anthony and Mr. Walch gave high praise for the 1,500 high school students who served as poll workers each year through our Youth at the Booth program.

New Leader for KV Southeast Pennsylvania

Rachel Willis — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:49:49 +0000

Ms. Anna Rabberman has agreed to accept the offer from the board of directors to be the new executive director for Kids Voting Southeast Pennsylvania. Richard Coe is retiring from the position after serving for five years.
“I have equally enjoyed the opportunity to meet so many new friends who are members of the Kids Voting volunteer network. I will continue to stay involved with Kids Voting as a member of the board of directors,” said Coe.
Anna Rabberman is not new to Kids Voting. Prior to her retirement from Council Rock School District last June, Anna coordinated the district Kids Voting program in her role as school district social studies coordinator.

ELECTION RESULTS

Rachel Willis — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 04:42:17 +0000

Click here for the official Kids Voting USA nationwide results.

2012 Presidential Election Results Press Release

Click on the affiliate name to see their specific results: (Please remember most of the PDFs are searchable so if you are looking for your specific school, find your affiliate, click on it and search the PDF for your school name.)

Blue Valley, Sycamore Hills Schools, Hickman Mills Schools, Liberty, Platte County, Shawnee Mission, Home School Association

Northern Kentucky

Stoughton (MA)

Minnesota, Minneapolis

Missouri

Southern Nevada

New Hampshire

North Carolina: Alleghany, Beaufort, Buncombe, Burke, Carbarrus, Catawba, Carteret, Clay, Cumberland, Davie, Durham, Forsyth, Greene, Guilford, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Madison, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Onslow, Randolph, Wake County

Southeast Pennsylvania

Civics Alive! is NOW aligned to the Common Core State Standards

Rachel Willis — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:20:55 +0000

Kids Voting USA worked with educators from Kansas to create a matrix that aligns the K – 12th grade social studies curriculum, called Civics Alive!, to the Common Core State Standards for Literacy (ELA) and Mathematics. You can view the matrix and live links to the KVUSA activities here https://kidsvotingusa.org/curriculum. Remember that you have to register to use the curriculum before you can enter this portion of the website. Don’t hesitate to call or email the national office if you have questions.

Celebration at Mount Rushmore

Rachel Willis — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:20:26 +0000

Nearly 600 fourth and fifth graders from around the Black Hills

to took part in the Chiesman Center’s Kids Voting South Dakota

(KVSD) 8th Bi-Annual kickoff celebration on Thursday, September 20 at

Mount Rushmore National Memorial Amphitheater.

The keynote speaker, South Dakota Secretary of State Jason Gant,

stressed the importance of voting and being active participants in our

electoral process. Those attending also listened to local entertainer, Gordy

Pratt, the Original Fabulous One Guy, engaging students in songs he

wrote about democracy and voting and a performance from Rural America

Initiative’s Ateyapi Drum Group.

Celebrating 20 years, KVSD has been providing year-round K-12

civic education programs for school districts and communities around the

state since 1992, focusing on the voting process, citizenship, and civic responsibility.

KVSD believes that active citizenship and civic engagement

begins, not ends, when ballots are cast. Kindergarten through twelfth

grade students from school districts throughout South Dakota will cast

votes on November 6th through Kids Voting South Dakota.

Vote Young, Vote Forever

Rachel Willis — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:00:31 +0000

Kids Voting Minnesota and Kids Voting USA recently were featured in the Minnesota Parent magazine. Read the complete article here.

Constitution Day

Rachel Willis — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:24:39 +0000

Included in our curriculum are activities that teach students about the Constitution. If you need lessons for Constitution Day, consider using these. Please remember that you need to log in as an Educator in order to view these activities.

3rd – 5th grade: Freedom Connection

6th – 8th grade: The “Right” Way

9th – 12th grade: Democracy in America “Jay Walking” & Save Your Rights