Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Tuesday, Nov. 2, Take Your Kids to Vote

Campaign Has Simple, But Important Message to Parents: On Tuesday, Nov. 2, Take Your Kids to Vote

To: National Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Sarah Howe of Council for Excellence in Government, 202-530-3270 or showe@excelgov.org
http://www.excelgov.org

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- How does one generation teach the next about the importance of voting? How can parents play a role in increasing voter turnout in future elections?

Here's one answer: On Election Day, Take Your Kids to Vote!

This is the message from the Council for Excellence in Government's Take Your Kids to Vote! 2004 campaign, a public education effort designed to introduce young people to voting.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. All of us -- even the kids -- must get in the game. The goal of Take Your Kids to Vote! is to have parents teach their children to be voters as they teach in so many other ways: by example. This simple effort makes voting a family affair and a family tradition. By starting early with kids voting can to be a habit that lasts a lifetime.

The need for such an effort is critical. The percentage of young adults who vote continues to decline. In 1972 (the year 18-year-olds became eligible to vote) 55 percent of 18-24 year olds voted. In the 2000 Presidential election, only 42 percent chose to do so.

Parents can make a real difference in their children's future voting habits. According to a 2002 Council for Excellence in Government study, parents who take their kids to vote, talk with their kids about politics, and vote in all or most elections raise kids with higher levels of political knowledge and political engagement. A previous study by the National Association of Secretaries of State found that parental voting behavior has a profound effect on whether their children vote.

The Take Your Kids to Vote! 2004 campaign is a project of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Council for Excellence in Government, which works to improve the performance of government at all levels as well as citizen participation, understanding and trust in government.
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Visit
http://www.takeyourkidstovote.org and http://www.takeyourkidstovote.org for more information

http://www.usnewswire.com/

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