University of Wisconsin - Extension

On Nov. 1, Wisconsin students from kindergarten through the twelfth grade will get a practical lesson in democracy by participating in Wisconsin KidsVote 2000.

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) are partnering for this mock election in which older students will cast their ballots for actual candidates and younger students will vote for favorite animals. WPT will broadcast results on Thursday, Nov. 2.

Project chair for the League of Women Voters Ellen Sorensen said,"Our goal is to build a sense of citizenship among students and, by example, their parents. "It's a great partnership," said Maria Alvarez Stroud, director of outreach for WPT. "The students get a taste of what voting means, and it gives them a chance to be heard.

Wisconsin KidsVote 2000 is affiliated with the National Student/Parent Mock Elections. Other partners are the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Education Association Council, Association of Wisconsin School Administrators CyberCivic, Ripon College, CenturyTel (Ripon) and G & G Telephone Service.