Kids Participate in Mock Election
Local News
by
Brittany Scheck
last edited on
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Tuesday the future leaders of America got a chance to choose which politicians they think would make the best leaders in a mock election.
Although they are still too young to vote in Tuesday's election students across the nation and at Dakota Middle School are getting the opportunity to let their voices be heard.
Nearly 80,000 students across our state will cast an electronic ballot as a part of "Kids Voting South Dakota," and these kids aren't taking this opportunity lightly, they've done their research.
"I just really did information on the computer just to see which one gave me the most information on what they like and what they are going to do for our community in South Dakota," says eighth grader Craig Burkes.
Tracy Downs is an American History teacher at Dakota Middle School, and she believes that it's important to give students the chance to learn about the election process at an early age.
"Our idea is if the students have formal training in their youth on the election process, on how to register to vote and be active, that they are more likely to be engaged and involved when they get to voting age," says Downs.
In South Dakota research has shown as much as a fifteen percent higher voter turn-out in communities with the "Kids Voting" program.
One of the students says when he is old enough, he knows he will show up on Election Day.
"People fight and die for our freedom and freedom to vote so we should practice that freedom," says eighth grader Reid Hess.
An important message to keep in mind today from the leaders of tomorrow.
The kids say although they do listen to what their parents have to say about the election, they won't necessarily just go along with their parents choices.
They did their own research and picked the candidate they felt was the best choice.