September 2004 Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Contact Janel Johnson: 802-828-1296

For Release 10:00 a.m., September 24, 2004

Vermont Votes for Kids Kicks Off the Election Season

 Secretary of State Markowitz Joins Union Elementary School
Students in Montpelier to Promote Voting

Montpelier. Today, Vermont Votes for Kids kicked off its 2004 program at Union Elementary School.  Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz joined 5^th grade students in Kristie Bush’s class to talk about the importance of voting to our democracy.

Ms. Bush’s students talked about their class project in which they send 18^th birthday cards to Montpelier High School seniors asking them to register to vote.  Bush said:  “Every year I try to teach my kids how they can participate in our country’s democracy.  Sending birthday cards in an effort to promote voter registration gives them an opportunity to make a difference – and it’s fun!”  Two students also shared their views on the importance of voting.  Markowitz said “We must teach our kids the value of voting at the earliest ages.   By involving youth in the election process today we can secure the future of our democracy into the future.”

Markowitz said, “Recent voting history demonstrates how important it is to involve our children in mock election programs.  Out of every 10 young adults only 3 voted in the last presidential election. Even fewer voted in Vermont.”

 Vermont Votes for Kids is a civics curriculum and mock election program sponsored by the Secretary of State’s Office that is being used in schools all over Vermont.  Before casting their ballots, students will participate in an innovative, action-packed, multidisciplinary curriculum that is available online. These studies help students learn how to research candidates and help them understand how elections work.  A six week Newspaper in Education series entitled Democracy in Action will be distributed by daily newspapers across the state to supplement the Vermont Votes for Kids program.

 Secretary of State Markowitz adds, “Vermont Votes for Kids is a comprehensive solution to a complex problem.  Democratic renewal will only be possible if parents and leaders in education, business, government, politics and the media commit themselves to a new, energetic creative strategy for reconnecting American youth to politics and public life. My hope is that Vermont Votes for Kids will help us ensure that our next generation of Vermonters will be active participants in democracy.”

 For more information, to access the Vermont Votes for Kids curriculum, and to view the Democracy in Action series please visit www.vermontvotesforkids.com

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