Background

What is Kids Voting?

Kids Voting gives school students the opportunity to participate in an authentic voting experience.  In the local government elections and the parliamentary election students vote for real candidates, on a real ballot paper, and compare the results from the Kids election with the results of the real election.  Teachers are provided with an exact replica of the ballot paper that will be issued to adult electors in the same area but with KIDS VOTING printed large at the top.  Teachers conduct an election in the week prior to the actual vote.  They follow the processes used in the actual election.  Results from each school are sent to the national coordinator who then provides reports on the results of the Kids Voting election.  This module has been developed with the social studies curriculum for Year Nine.

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Where did Kids Voting start?

The Kids Voting programme was developed in the United States in the late 1990s.  Students were encouraged to accompany their parents/guardians to the polling booths on election day.  Students voted alongside their parents/guardians (for the same candidates), but of course, since these voters were underage, their votes were not counted.

Several key benefits developed.  Firstly, the students' awareness of the political process was fostered and the practise of voting encouraged.  Secondly, the participation of students in the voting process encouraged more parents/guardians to turn out to vote, thereby lifting the adult voter turnout by around 5%.  The Kids Voting programme is now widely used in the US.  For more information about Kids Voting in the US click here.

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When did Kids Voting come to New Zealand?

Kids Voting was introduced by Auckland City Council in 2000 as a practical exercise in its ‘Political Awareness in Schools' programme.  This programme covered the role of local government and citizens, services provided by local government, and how to participate in shaping the future of the community, giving young people an authentic voting experience.  It was trialled by Auckland City Council for the 2001 local authority elections.

Introduced as part of the social studies curriculum, Kids Voting targets students aged 11-14 years using the actual candidates that are standing for the election.  Students research the candidates running for office; this can include their policies and viewpoints on local issues.  The students' final results are compared to the official results and often reflect the same outcome. 

Kids Voting has taken place in Auckland City for the local authority elections during 2001, 2004, 2007, and for the parliamentary elections during 2002 and 2005.

Auckland City Council is continuing to run Kids Voting for schools in Auckland City. Teachers in Auckland City can register for 2010 by calling 09 379 2020, emailing kidsvote@aucklandcity.govt.nz or going online to www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/communityprojects.

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Who is running Kids Voting?

Kids Voting is now being made available nationwide as part of the Growing Active Citizens project.

Growing Active Citizens is co-ordinated by Local Government New Zealand with support from a range of agencies.  Our aim is to increase active participation in decision making locally, regionally and nationally.

Through the Growing Active Citizens project, we intend to develop a range of resources to support citizenship education for young people in New Zealand and increase understanding of, and participation in, community and democratic processes.

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Why carry out Kids Voting?

Kids Voting increases young peoples' understanding of, and participation in, electoral and democratic process.

Voter turnout in elections is one sign of the health of a democracy.  In New Zealand, as in most developed democracies, voter turnout is falling.  Levels of political engagement are low among young people and working through schools is one way to encourage young people to take part.   

Two recent Select Committee reports have recommended strengthening citizenship education in schools and the need for teaching resources to support this.

Programs that provide students with an experience of participation increase their interest, understanding, and future participation in political processes.  Research from the USA has found that Kids Voting has:

  • long term influence on students
  • particular effectiveness for students from low socio-economic backgrounds
  • contributed to students initiating political discussion at home, thereby influencing parents, who in turn encourage their children to participate
  • a strong correlation to registration and voting for first time voters
  • contributed to increases to adult voter turnout in Kids Voting communities.

For more information and research about young peoples' participation in elections and what works click here.

While it is important to influence the future participation of students as adult voters later in life, it is just as important to recognise the contribution that young people can make right now.  

Kids Voting, and the wider Growing Active Citizens project, aim to support young people to get involved in local (and national) issues here and now.   We want to provide young people with information, tools, and experiences that can support them to participate effectively in their communities on issues that matter to them.  

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Is Kids Voting ongoing?

Yes, it is intended that Kids Voting will run every year, cycling between the local government elections, the parliamentary election, and a year in between.  In 2009 the programme was Kids Voting: You Choose in which teachers could choose to hold an election or a referendum for their students on an issue that is of specific interest to them.

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Is Kids Voting only for Year Nine students?

Kids Voting has been designed primarily for Year Nine students but that does not mean other classes cannot use the resource.

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Does Kids Voting provide for the Maori roll, wards and electorates?

Yes, Kids Voting will be available for students who may wish to enrol on the 'Kids' Maori roll and for Maori wards and electorates where these exist.  Voting papers will be available for the Maori electorates for the parliamentary elections. 

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How will Kids Voting work in 2010? 

  • Interested teachers and councils register their interested through this website (register here).
  • Councils that register will be told about interested schools in their area.
  • A toolkit to support councils and teachers undertaking Kids Voting will be available on this website.  Registered councils and teachers will receive an email to let them know the kit is available.
  • After candidate nomination has closed, each teacher will be emailed a copy of the Kids Voting ballot papers relevant for that school and be sent ballot box materials.
  • Kids Voting is completed by Wednesday 6 October.
  • Local government elections finish on 9 October 2010 and results will be available online at http://www.lgol.co.nz/ from Saturday evening.
  • Students count their votes on Monday 11 October and compare their results to that of the election.
  • Each teacher emails the results from their class to the national coordinator.
  • Each teacher receives a report on the results of the Kids Voting election in November 2010.

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What about STV elections?

If you live in an area where Single Transferable Vote (STV) elections are held for your council elections, we can provide relevant information and resources for you.

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Is Kids Voting only for local authorities?

Kids Voting is only available for city and district councils for the 2010 local authority elections, and not for regional council elections.  Kids Voting will not be available for District Health Board elections.

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But aren't local government elections postal votes?

Yes, local government elections are generally conducted by postal vote, although voters can also ‘post' their vote into an official ballot box provided by the council.  Students will cast their vote in a ballot box for Kids Voting, to enable the votes to be counted easily the following week.

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