Kids Voting Minneapolis

HELP OUR K-12 STUDDENTS LEARN TO VOTE. OUR MOTTO: VOTE YOUNG, VOTE FOREVER

Check out our website, www.kidsvotingminneapolis.org to see our election results by school, by grade. In the Presidential Election in 2012, more than 14,000 Minneapolis students cast ballots at 114 Minneapolis precinct polling places and schools on Election Day.

Through Kids Voting Minneapolis, we strive to create positive civic experiences for Minneapolis’ 50,000 youth and instill in them a lifetime habit of informed voting. The Kids Voting program has two primary components: 1) We provide civics-based K-12 classroom lessons and activities at no cost to all interested schools (public, private, alternative, charter, and home schools) in the city of Minneapolis. Students learn about the right to vote, democracy, civic responsibility, and the importance of participation in the political process.  2) On Election Day, students experience first-hand an authentic voting experience by accompanying their parent/relative/neighbor to their neighborhood polling place. With the help of hundreds of community volunteers, students cast a Kids Voting Minneapolis ballot, voting on many of the same candidates and issues contained on the adult ballot. And they love the "I Voted" sticker they receive.This simple act takes the mystery out of the voting process and instills in students a feeling of pride, accomplishment, and responsibility. Results of the student election are posted on our website, www.kidsvotingminneapolis.org. 

Our goal is to raise the necessary resources so we can be back at the polls in the next election to provide our students with an exciting, authentic election voting experience. We are a very small non-profit, but we do need your help to continue offering this opportunity to our students. 

National research has confirmed the positive impact of the program on voting patterns and civic participation. Specifically, research on the Kids Voting program has shown: • A positive, long-term impact on civic participation among youth, especially students from low-income households • A positive correlation between student participation in Kids Voting and subsequent registration and voting among 18-year-olds • Increased adult voter turnout of as much as 3 to 5% In the Presidential Election in 2012, more than 14,000 Minneapolis students cast ballots at 114 Minneapolis precinct polling places and schools on Election Day. To assist these K-12 voters, we staffed more than 230 volunteer shifts at precincts. Fewer students voted in this 2014 Off-Year Election, but we want to be in great shape for the 2016 Presidential Election.  Active, civic engagement is crucial to our country’s future. Through our program, students learn that they have the power to make a difference in their community. We hope you will consider supporting Kids Voting Minneapolis.

Feedback from Election Day: “I like that kids are now able to vote. I think it teaches them at a young age how important voting really is to all of us and prepares them as adults. My two daughters voted.” Parent; “My Mom doesn’t even know yet who she’s voting for. But I do.” 1st grade student; ”I loved working with the young kids, and seeing their faces light up when they received their ‘I Voted’ stickers.” Volunteer; “She’s been a little ‘politics nerd’ for the past six months. She’s been looking forward to voting for a long time!” Parent of 3rd grader; “A fourth grader was so excited as he read the amendments by himself and made his own decisions about how to vote. He said he even convinced his parents who to vote for, for President!” Volunteer; “Thank you for doing this. It was really fun.” Student voter; “I had a great time. I really enjoyed seeing the excitement on the kids’ faces. Kids Voting is so important because it allows kids to feel part of what is an adult experience.” Volunteer; “Such a great program. I cannot vote because I’m an immigrant. But my 1st grade daughter could. Thank you for this good program.” Parent; “One mom went home to get her child so he could vote.” Volunteer; “Great turnout. Fun time!” Volunteer; “Parents are very pleased with this opportunity; kids love it.”