What is Kids Voting Shakopee?
Kids Voting Shakopee is a nonprofit and nonpartisan community organization that prepares and motivates future voters with nationally acclaimed curriculum and hands-on voting experience on Election Day. Recognizing a growing trend of low voter turnout, Kids Voting Shakopee is a community based solution to building a strong generation of voters for the future. Kids Voting believes that if kids experience civic involvement, they will create a habit of informed voting that will last through their adult years.
The Kids Voting program involves students in the voting process with both classroom and hands on activities. The school lessons teach students from grades 3 through 9 about the importance of becoming an informed voter.
On Election Day, voting becomes a family experience as students accompany their parents to the polls and cast a special ballot on the same issues as the adults.
Kids learn first-hand about the impact of their voting as they see the Kids Voting results tabulated and reported by local news media during the election coverage.
Facts About Kids Voting
- Kids Voting started in an Arizona community in 1988, became statewide in 1990 and went nationwide in 1992. Kids Voting came to Minnesota in 1994 and to Shakopee in 2004.
- Kids Voting helps students and parents of all cultures and income levels learn more about our democratic process.
- Organizers believe Kids Voting will help close the gender gap in adult voting trends and increase voter turnout among 18 - 24 year olds, the age group least likely to vote.
- Studies of Kids Voting communities suggest that the program increases adult voter turnout 3 to 5 percent.
- In 2008 approximately 1.8 million students voted in Kids Voting elections across the United States.
- Kids Voting USA reaches 300 counties; 4.3 million students; 200,000 teachers in 10,600 schools.
- In 2009, Kids Voting affiliates operate in 45 Minnesota school districts.
- A total of 8297 Shakopee students have voted in Kids Voting elections since 2004
- Kids Voting Shakopee provides curriculum and educational materials to teachers in Shakopee Public Schools and Shakopee Area Catholic School and involves more than 100 volunteers in the program each year.
- Kids Voting needs community support to be successful!
Who Is Involved With Kids Voting Shakopee?
Many different community members keep the organization strong:
- A volunteer steering committee facilitates Kids Voting Shakopee.
- Teachers instruct students in the Kids Voting curriculum.
- Service organizations and businesses serve as election judges and donate money and materials.
- Parents support their children by discussing the candidates and issues at home, and taking their children to the polls to vote.
If you would like to help, please contact the Kids Voting chairpersons listed below.
Position Statement
To view the Kids Voting Shakopee position statement, click here.
Contact
To request more information on Kids Voting Shakopee, please click here or contact the Co-Chairs of our committee:
Paulette Rislund
Kids Voting Shakopee Co-Chair
Shakopee Public Schools
505 S. Holmes St.
Shakopee, MN 55379
Ph: (952) 496-5028
Fax: (952) 496-5098
prislund@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Lorri Helkamp
Kids Voting Shakopee Co-Chair
Kubes Realty, Inc.
1221 East Fourth Avenue
Suite 100
Shakopee, MN 55379
Phone: (952) 380-8230
lorrihelkamp@att.net
