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Published on 11/02/1998 All articles from this issue

Kids get a head start casting their ballots

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By Linda Taaffe

Town Crier Staff Writer

Low voter turnout wasn't a concern at St.Nicholas School in Los Altos Hills during the Nov. 3 election. Nearly 100 percent of the student body lined up at the polls to cast their votes alongside their parents and other registered voters.

For most of the kindergarten through eighth-grade students, the trip to the polls was their first. Some came prepared with written ballot information while others appeared to be more interested in the voting booth than who was running for governor. But organizers agreed that each voter walked away with a greater understanding of the voting process.

Just ask third grader Keith Busmire, who spent the night before the election studying the issues with his two sisters and mother. Keith said he didn't know what to expect come election day, but admitted the whole experience was exciting.

The St. Nicholas students were among the 300,000 students countywide to participate in Kids Voting Silicon Valley, a nonprofit program intended to create a more informed generation of voters and increase future participation at the polls.

Through the program, students study democracy and participate in hands-on activities in the classroom for about a month before election day. Older students team up with younger schoolmates to explain and discuss various propositions.

On election day, students go to official polling sites and cast their "mock" votes for the same candidates and issues as adults. Their votes are tabulated throughout the county and released that night.

"It's important for kids to see their parents out there voting and then to be able to vote themselves. It becomes a family thing," said Carol North, a parent-volunteer.

Three Arizona businessmen launched the Kids Vote program in 1987 after traveling to Costa Rica, where the voter turnout rate is typically 90 percent. They attributed this high number to a youth voting program established throughout the country's schools.

Kids Vote has since expanded to include 40 states and 5 million student voters, including about 500 voter precincts in Santa Clara County this year.

Organizers said the program has not only benefited students, but has actually increased adult participation at the polls by 3 to 9 percent in certain districts.

Los Altos resident Louanna Angelo first organized the event at St. Nicholas last year after learning about the program through a neighbor.

"I was enamored by the whole idea," she said. "The goal is to open up avenues of discussion between parents and children. I think interest is very high and (students) realize the importance of voting. My own children have educated me on some issues."

Parents weren't the only ones raving about the program.

Eighth grader Diane Russell said although her parents influenced most of her ballot decisions, she feels better informed with what's going on around her.

"It's pretty cool that we got to do this," she said.