GETTING READY FOR ELECTION 2010...

Recommitment... In January 2010, Kids Voting Missouri met with school district liaisons from most of its '08 particpating St. Louis Area School Districts. School districts were asked to recommit for the 2010 program and pledge to continue educating their students about the importance of becoming engaged, informed, and responsible citizens.

As of August 2010, twenty area school districts have made a pledge to participate in 2010. These districts include: Bayless, Ferguson-Florissant, Fox C-6, Francis Howell, Hazelwood, Jennings, Ladue, Lindbergh, Maplewood-Richmond Hts., Mehlville, Meramec Valley R-III, Normandy, Pattonville, Parkway, Ritenour, Riverview Gardens, Rockwood, St. Louis Public Schools, University City, and Valley Park.

Doubleclick Democracy!  For Election 2010, because of budget constraints, participating school districts voted to experiment with on-line voting. Each participating district will get two ballots--a special one for K-3 tied to the GLE's and an "official" ballot for 4-12 with the same candidates and issues as the adult voters. 

To access ballots, each school will have a unique set of pin numbers for its students.

Furthermore, to make on-line voting work, Kids Voting Missouri will also test early voting.  Kids Voting Missouri polls will officially open on Tuesday, October 26 at 7:00 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 2nd. 

(Ballots actually are "turned on" each day at 7:00 a.m. and "turned off" at 4:30 p.m.)

Note:

Any Missouri school district still wishing to join Kids Voting Missouri should contact Sandy Diamond at sdiamond@umsl.edu before September 15, 2010. Requirements for participation include: the Superintendent must sign a Memorandum of Understanding and teachers must be inserviced prior to participation.

Also, if any Private, parochial, or charter schools located within boundaries of exisiting participating school districts want to join, please contact Sandy Diamond at sdiamond@umsl.edu. The same requirements from above apply.

 2010 Participating Kids Voting Missouri School Districts

1. The lastest research from the Civic Mission of Schools demonstrates that the more students participate in a simulated activity like registering to vote and voting, the more likely they are to actually register and vote when they turn 18. (http://www.civicmissionofschools.org/) 
    
2. In a 2004 report from CIRCLE (Center for Information & Research on Civic Engagement), Missouri ranked 9th in the country on the percent of 18-24 year olds that registered and voted. In the 2004 study, 5 of the top 9 states were Kids Voting USA states. (www.civicyouth.org/prractioners/state_ranks2004.htm) 
    
3. And in CIRCLE's 2006 report, Missouri was again ahead of the national average ranking 9th with 32% of its 18-29 year olds registering and voting. The national average for 18-29 year olds that resistered and voted was 25%. States that led the country in youth voter turnout were Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota--all Kids Voting USA states! (See www.civicyouth.org/ for more information.)