THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060365
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 86 lines
Like hundreds of other students in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, 12-year-old Dwight McGraw accompanied his mom to the polls Tuesday and cast a ballot of his own.
The Virginia Beach seventh-grader, a student at Princess Anne Middle School, hustled into an area of Ocean Lakes Elementary where several booths had been set up as part of a new education program called Kids Voting.
The focus of the program is to mold kids into informed voters of the future. Organizers also see it as a way for kids to nudge their parents to vote, since elementary and middle school students had to be accompanied by an adult.
At Ocean Lakes, Dwight signed in, took a seat and carefully scanned the ballot - which had mug shots of the candidates and bubbles to fill in next to the names of contenders for the presidency, vice presidency, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
He dropped his ballot in a box after making his picks: Bill Clinton and other Democrats.
What was the opportunity like?
Kinda fun. Kinda cool. Kinda grown-up.
``It kinda makes me feel better that they're letting kids vote, even if it doesn't count,'' he said.
``When we get involved in politics as a kid, we'll understand it better when we grow up.''
And, sponsors hope, they will be more inclined to stay on top of issues and turn out for elections as adults.
At a time when some social critics say American democracy is being hurt by voter apathy, the program is also a way to keep students and adults excited about elections, organizers say.
``We saw a lot of parents who came specifically to vote with their child,'' said Angelica Light, executive director of Kids Voting Virginia.
``To us, that means citizenship is becoming a family affair.''
Kindergarten through 12th-grade students in all Norfolk and in five Virginia Beach schools were involved in the nationwide effort to teach schoolchildren civic responsibility with projects that included debates, mock voting and homework to encourage discussions with parents.
In Virginia Beach, some students from schools other than the five selected also got a chance to vote Tuesday at Kids Voting booths.
In both cities, high school students had additional ballot questions, such as the same five questions adults faced on amendments to the state constitution.
Kids Voting booths were set up at several polling places throughout Norfolk and the Beach, including some schools.
In Norfolk, students voted at designated times. In Virginia Beach, Kids Voting hours coincided with regular voting hours.
Like most Americans, the students favored Clinton for president. Preliminary results showed Clinton with 68 percent of the vote, compared with Bob Dole's 25 percent.
In the 2nd congressional district, students leaned toward Democrat Owen Pickett over Republican John Tate, early results showed.
There were some early surprises, however.
Preliminary results showed Democrat Mark Warner far ahead of Republican incumbent John Warner for a U.S. Senate seat. And in the 3rd congressional district, students gave an early edge to Republican challenger Elsie Holland, who faced incumbent Robert ``Bobby'' Scott.
The important thing is that students took part, said Glen Sussman, an Old Dominion University assistant professor of political science.
``It's very likely that the children are exposed to the particular preferences of their parents, so there's always that factor, but in terms of democracy and political participation, it's a healthy thing to do,'' he said.
Three Arizona businessmen launched Kids Voting in 1988 after a fishing trip to Costa Rica. There, high voter turnout is attributed, in part, to a tradition of children going to the polls with their parents.
Locally, many students gave the idea a thumbs-up.
``It's all good practice,'' said Christopher Jones, a 16-year-old junior at Norfolk's Maury High School, which had its own mock election last week.
Lucille McGraw, Dwight's mother, agreed.
``I think it's great,'' she said as she waited for her son to finish voting. ``It's good for them to be involved.'' ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN photos/The Virginian-Pilot
Holly Stamey, 9, left, and Corey Brown, 16, vote at Ocean Lakes
Elementary School Tuesday as part of the Kids Voting project.
Jessica Hall, 10, looks over the ballot with her parents, Jim and
Judy Hall, at Ocean Lakes Elementary School Tuesday.
KEYWORDS: KIDS VOTING PROGRAM ELECTION
by CNB