Our Mission Kids Voting USA® (KVUSA) is working to secure the future of democracy by preparing young people to be educated, engaged citizens.
Our Program We operate through a national network of community-based affiliates that partner with schools and election officials to offer students in Kindergarten through high school a wide range of opportunities for civic learning.
It is the combination of classroom instruction, family dialogue and an authentic voting experience that makes Kids Voting USA a powerful strategy for achieving long-term change in voting behavior.
Kids Voting Central Florida
KVUSA classroom civics activities introduce students to the concepts of citizenship in the earliest grades and continue throughout their school years. This ongoing education develops strong skills and habits for living in a democracy.
After classroom preparation, students take part in a voting experience using a ballot that mirrors that of the adults with the same candidates and issues. This “real life” practice dispels the mysteries of the voting process and reinforces the knowledge and skills gained through Kids Voting classroom activities.
Kids Voting Bibb County (Ga.)
It's all designed to work with the social studies curriculum currently used so teachers can choose activities that are appropriate to lesson plans and that fit time requirements. Kids Voting USA classroom materials are not an "add-on" to an already full teaching schedule. These activities are tools to help teachers meet the standards outlined in the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies as well as state curriculum standards for social studies.
Our History In 1988, three businessmen from Arizona traveled to Costa Rica on a fishing trip. During their visit, they learned that the country’s voter turnout is typically around 90 percent. This high turnout was attributed to a tradition of children accompanying their parents to the polls. The men were intrigued by the idea, but also recognized a missing link to education. They launched a school-based pilot project in a Phoenix suburb that has since grown into the national Kids Voting USA organization.
