UB Takes Lead in Kids Voting Western New York
One year since partnering in the Kids Voting Western New York program, UB has successfully taken a leadership role in raising the quality of pre-K through 16 education in our community through its funding and operation of the program.
UB President John B. Simpson stated that there is a need for universities to strengthen our democracy by encouraging its future voters. Simpson said, “Our public universities, with service to the community a fundamental aspect of their missions, possess the resources necessary to play an educational leadership role in programs like Kids Voting.”
“Too often overlooked in a well-rounded education are the skills and experiences that will make young people become educated, productive, and engaged members of our society’s civic life,” added Simpson.
“We need to educate children at an early age about the importance of making your voice heard and your opinion count. One way to accomplish that goal is to vote”
James A. Williams,
Superintendent, Buffalo Public Schools
Kids Voting, a national nonprofit, nonpartisan voter-education program, teaches students of all ages about voting and promotes their participation in government as voters. Teachers of classes from kindergarten through high school use the program’s instructional materials to help their students participate in curriculum about the democratic process and elections, and then cast their ballots on Election Day.
This year, 27 school districts and 13 parochial schools participated. Sixteen schools in the Buffalo Public Schools and two Buffalo charter schools were among the participants. Plans called for UB faculty members to be involved in strengthening the program’s content and instructional material.
In conjunction with the program involving voting in schools, school children cast ballots for candidates in local and regional elections. A space at the bottom of each ballot is designated for schools to add their own individualized issue—such as which items to add to the cafeteria menu—on which their students can then vote.
Additionally, seniors at Buffalo’s McKinley High School who will be eligible to vote in the 2008 presidential election registered to vote during a program held at the school by Kids Voting Western New York on November 5.
UB is currently working to strengthen the program’s content and instructional materials through contributions from university faculty members from the areas of law, political science, history, and education.
Kids Voting Western New York is offered through a partnership involving UB, The Buffalo News, and the Buffalo Alliance for Education. “We are proud to partner with the University at Buffalo on such an important program that promotes student involvement in the electoral process,” said James A. Williams, superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools.
The program was started in 1996 as an initiative of The Buffalo News, with UB assuming responsibility for the program in 2006. The Western New York chapter of Kids Voting is housed in UB’s Center for Educational Collaboration.
“We need to educate children at an early age about the importance of making your voice heard and your opinion count. One way to accomplish that goal is to vote,” added Superintendent Williams.
