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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Erika Imbody, 785-532-7252, erika@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Megan Wilson, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Friday, Oct. 31, 2008

K-STATE'S INSTITUTE FOR CIVIC DISCOURSE AND DEMOCRACY TEAMS UP WITH KIDS VOTING KANSAS TO TEACH CHILDREN VALUE OF VOTING

MANHATTAN -- The Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy at Kansas State University is partnering with Kids Voting Kansas to encourage kids to participate in the election process by offering them an opportunity to vote on Election Day.

Volunteers with Kids Voting Kansas will staff election booths just for kids in grades K-12 from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, at all 20 of the official polling places in the Manhattan city limits.

Students from USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden and USD 378 Riley County are participating. Kindergartners, first-graders and second-graders will only vote on the presidential race, while students in grades 3-12 will vote on the presidential, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives races, as well as the two local ballot issues: the smoking ban ordinance and the school bond issue.

The Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy will report the results of the Kids Voting project on Election Night. 

The Kids Voting Kansas program has two components. One is curriculum, which teachers can download from the program's Web site and integrate into their classroom. The curriculum includes lessons and democratic activities, which teach children about the value of voting as well as the requirements and procedures for voting.

"ICDD is coordinating opportunities for K-State students to visit classrooms and present the Kids Voting lessons," said Erika Imbody, the institute's project coordinator. "Several local teachers have taken advantage of inviting college students into their classrooms to help instill the importance of voting to their students."

The second component of the Kids Voting program is the opportunity to vote on Election Day. Parents can take their children with them to vote, or students can cast a ballot at the polling place set up at their school building on Election Day.

Kids Voting Kansas began in 1992 as part of a national pilot project involving only 10 states. The program is now active in 40 states. Kansas currently has the second largest Kids Voting program in the country.

The Kansas program divides the state into areas, with each area running its own program. Kids Voting Kansas Riley County, in conjunction with K-State's Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy, is organizing the local event.

"ICDD is glad to partner with partner with several local organizations to recruit volunteers to work the kids' voting polls," said Imbody, who also is serving as the Riley County task force chair. "We think it's vital for students to learn at a young age the importance of participating in the democratic process. We're especially thankful to the Konza Rotary Club, which is serving as our local financial sponsor for this project."

Since implementing Kids Voting Kansas, the state has seen an average of 60 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds turn out to vote in Kids Voting communities, compared to only 10-15 percent of that age group turning out to vote nationally. Overall voter turnout has increased 5 percent in Kansas communities that offer the Kids Voting program.

The following are polling places where Kids Voting Kansas booths will be available from 4-7 p.m. Nov. 4. All locations are within the Manhattan city limits:

College Avenue Methodist Church, First Assembly of God Church, Highland Ridge Clubhouse, Manhattan Arts Center, Pottorf Hall, St. Thomas More Church, Vineyard Community Church, Eisenhower Middle School, First Presbyterian Church, Kansas State University Foundation, Manhattan Public Library, Riley County Senior Center, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Westview Community Church, Faith Evangelical Free Church, Grace Baptist Church, Living Word Church, Meadowlark Hills Community, St. Joseph's Village and University Christian Church.

More information on Kids Voting Kansas is available at: http://www.kidsvotingkansas.org or at the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy Web site, http://www.k-state.edu/icdd

More information also is available by contacting Imbody at 785-532-6868.