DATE: Friday, October 31, 1997              TAG: 9710310070

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MICHELLE MIZAL, COLLEGE CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   79 lines

KIDS VOTING: DO THESE GUYS LOOK FAMILIAR?

JOSH PEASE, 18, scratches his head. He's trying to think of who's running for governor.

``It's not Gilmore, is it? And some guy who wants no tax on something?'' His bleached blond bowl-cut hair now is slightly messed on the left side.

Like Josh, many teens are in a jumble when it comes to the upcoming election on Tuesday. That's why last year a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization called Kids Voting Virginia started inviting local youths in kindergarten through high school to cast their own ballots on election day.

It's part of Kids Voting USA, a nationwide network that aims to increase adult voter turnout by encouraging young people to vote using simulated ballots and booths.

Joanne Taylor, executive director of Kids Voting Virginia, said that most teens are not interested in voting, and ultimately that affects adult voter turnout in America. The organization says that only 20 percent of young adults will vote by age 21. Fifty percent of eligible citizens do not vote in presidential elections, and 70 percent do not vote in local elections.

Taylor said that if young people start voting while still in secondary school, they'll likely vote when they get older.

So to get young people politically comfy, the organization will set up Kids Voting Virginia booths at official adult voting sites in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. High school students do not need an adult to accompany them. Parents are encouraged to bring their children but cannot enter the booths with the young voters.

Teen precinct captains such as Eric Garcia will even be there to hand out the ballots.

At 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, Eric, 17, will report for duty at station No. 29, the Holland Elementary School gymnasium. Dressed in a crisp white Kids Voting Virginia T-shirt, Eric will hand out the ballots and direct folks to the booths. He hopes for a big crowd.

``I heard that kids were real excited last year, but I've seen my government class,'' said Eric, who attends Kellam High in Virginia Beach. ``They seem uninterested in the elections outside of class. They feel left out and they can't change anything, so they don't think about voting.''

For the most part, Eric is right.

It's about a week before the election and Rachel Vaughan, 16, can't remember who's running for governor. She's never even heard of Kids Voting Virginia.

``It's Gilmore and what's his face,'' she said. ``I don't really follow the elections. I can't vote yet. The only things I know about them is what I see in commercials, and that's as close as I get.''

``I don't know who I would vote for,'' said Walter Amos, 17. ``I watched the debate (Gilmore and Beyer) between the candidates in government class. I didn't get anything out of it really. They were just bashing each other.''

Walter, a senior at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, said he's not big on the ballot thing either. ``I don't think it matters till I turn 18,'' he said.

However, Joanne Taylor says that young peoples' votes do matter. She encourages young people to take part in the voting.

Kids Voting Virginia is sponsored by The Virginian-Pilot and the Landmark Foundation as well us local underwriters and contributors. Virginia is one of 41 states that participate in Kids Voting. Results are reported by the media, just like the official results.

But even with all of this, teens say that young people still need to be more alert to elections and that parents and community can help.

``Young people should read the paper more and think about how a person whose running could affect our educational budget,'' Josh said, still thinking about who else is running for governor. ``Parents can talk to their children. Simplify the issues. Show a kid why she can't get this toy because mommy had to pay this tax. And, oh yeah, it's Gilmore and Beyer.'' MEMO: Michelle Mizal is a senior at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photos]

Gilmore

Beyer

ON THE BALLOT

GRAPHIC

[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.] KEYWORDS: MOCK ELECTION CANDIDATE

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