 History
Kids Voting began in 1988 in Phoenix, Arizona. Three businessmen from Arizona traveled to Costa Rica on a fishing trip and while there they learned that the country’s voter turnout is typically around 80 percent. This high turnout is attributed to a tradition of children accompanying their parents to the polls. When the businessmen returned home they recognized that there were powerful missing links in American schools between civic education and the experiential learning necessary to truly engage students. The program began expanding nationally in 1992. Today almost 30 states and the District of Columbia use the Kids Voting curriculum in their schools.
When did the Catawba County project begin?
Catawba County launched a pilot project, in the Hickory City Schools only, in 2000. The program expanded to all three Catawba County school systems in 2002. Since then we have added private, charter and home schools.
The Election Process
 Kids Voting USA is the only organization that virtually replicates the official voting process. Students go to official polling sites on election day accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other adult. Students cast their own ballots, which simulate the official ballot. Students 'vote' in their own voting booths located near adult polling booths. Results are reported by news media just as official results are. Kids Voting is as close to the real thing as anyone under the age of 18 can get. And, studies show it's increasing adult voter turnout!
All students K-12 are invited to participate, regardless of whether or not their classroom participates.
Results of Kids Voting
Results are published by school system in local papers. Generally, Kids Voting results are similar to the adult results from the general election.
Dr.
Steven Chaffee of Stanford University found in his research
that Kids Voting students become the catalyst for change in
their family's voting pattern, boosting parents' interest
in the election process.
The 'trickle-up' effect is most notable among families of low
socioeconomic status, and data shows that in the classroom
the curriculum does much to close the socioeconomic gap between
students.
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