Over 30,000 students expected to cast their votes for president in 2008

The kick-off celebration will feature elementary school students telling of the their wishes for the future of our country, registering the first middle school student voters in the county, and high school students explaining what democracy means to them. In addition, U.S Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6th District); Pennsylvania State Senator Andrew Dinniman (D-19th Senatorial District); and Chester County Commissioners Carole Aichele (R) and Kathi Cozzone (D) will speak to the students regarding the importance of being informed and active citizens. The kick-off celebration will be held on the steps of the Chester County Courthouse in West Chester, PA from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

As a result of Kids Voting, over 30,000 Chester County students are expected to cast their ballots for the next president and vice president of the United States along with students in 42 other states and the District of Columbia. So whether they are kindergartners or high school seniors, one day they will be able to look back and tell their children, whom they voted for in the 2008 presidential election.

“We are really excited that our students can be part of this historic election,” said Rebecca Givler, CCIU special events coordinator. “No matter who wins, we all know that it is an election that students will discuss in social studies classes 20 years from now. How thrilling that our students will be able to tell their children for whom they voted.”

Kids Voting – Chester County provides more than a voting experience. The program works by initially having students learn about the importance of democracy and voting in school, based on a curriculum developed by Kids Voting USA and adapted by CCIU staff. Workshops were held during the summer and early fall to train teachers on the curriculum.

“We’ve been holding workshops for the teachers so they can teach the kids about voting and civics,” said Givler.

During the workshop, teachers are shown activities they can employ to make learning easier. For example, high-school kids can play a koosh ball game in which students “discover the power of group deliberation in democracy in order to solve a problem or improve a process.” Another activity, designed to have students experience the injustice of voter discrimination, has high school kids take the 1965 Alabama Literacy Test, a test given to African Americans in Alabama that they had to pass in order to register to vote. This allows today’s teenagers to see if they would be able to vote in Alabama before 1965 using this criterion.

As for the younger kids, activities involve a voting chain, which helps them to understand how their vote gives them power, and an another exercise where they are given a star, and are asked to write on the star one wish they have for our country. Students from Lionville Elementary School will be reading their wishes at the Kids Voting Kick-off on October 2.

The activities and lessons culminate with students casting their ballot in online election. Each participating school will set up a designated area where a computer terminal can be placed and used solely for the purpose of having the kids vote online. The Kids Voting online polls will open about one week before the actual election begins in order to make sure all students who wish to have the opportunity to do so.

While Givler recognizes that doing the election online takes away from the experience of voting at the official election polls, she sees it as no less influential or educational for the kids who take part.

“It ended up working out really well in 2004, and it was so much less expensive,” said Givler. “We saved money by not having to print 30,000 paper ballots, and to have staff drive to over 200 polling precincts delivering and picking up ballots, supplies and voting booths. Besides, by the time a child who is in kindergarten during the 2008 Kids Voting election is eligible to vote in 2026, we all may be voting online.”

**About Kids Voting**

In 1996, the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) began working with Kids Voting USA, a non-partisan organization dedicated to educating children about voting and civic responsibility and to providing a meaningful voting experience for school-age children and youth. Since then, nearly 70,000 Chester County students have cast their vote for the president and vice president of the United States in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Kids Voting – Chester County elections