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CR 2000-70 Approve the Implementation of the Kids Vote Program . April 11, 2000 Council Report 2000-70 APPROVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE uKIOS VOTE" PROGRAM IN THE HOPKINS POLLING PLACES Proposed Action Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve the implementation of the "Kids Vote" program in the Hopkins Polling Places. This motion will allow the "Kids Vote" Board to set up election materials and equipment for Hopkins School District students in the established Hopkins Precincts. Overview The Hopkins School District and Community Services is proposing to institute the "Kids Voting" program in the school district precincts. Two steering committee meetings have been held and one committee meeting has been held. I also attended a meeting at the Clerks Conference with Jeff Cox, Duluth City Clerk, who was the first City Clerk in . Minnesota to work with the program. The program mission is to promote voter participation and to educate children about the voting process. Primary Issues to Consider . The history of the program . How the program works . Impact on the Polling Places . The impact on Cit y staff . Cost to the City Supporting Information . Film . Financial Impact: $ ;2(~ttJ. (~.Budgeted: Y/N X- Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.): Notes: .- .-..-.., ---- Council Report 2000-70 Page 2 . The history of the program . The program was started in Arizona after three businessmen went to Costa Rica on a fishing trip. While they were there, they learned that the voter turn out in Costa Rica was traditionally between 80 to 90%. The large turn out was attributed to the tradition of parents taking kids with them to the polls when they voted. These men returned to Arizona and implemented a successful "Kids Voting" pilot program. Two years later, they launched the first national program in eleven states. In 1994, the "Kids Voting" program was launched in Minnesota. The first City to participate was Duluth. . How the program works "Kids Vote" is a partnership between the Businesses, Schools, families, and Community. A "Kids Vote" Board (steering committee) is formed utilizing people from all of the above sectors. The businesses involved will be asked for financial donations. They will also be asked to adopt a precinct. If a business adopts a precinct, they will be responsible for staffing the "Kids Vote" polling area during the times that kids can vote. . Schools will use curriculum provided by the program, teaching students the election and voting process, the first step in creating a comfort zone with the voting process. Families will participate by including all members in their trip to the polls. Parents and older students will also be asked to volunteer at the polling places and in the counting process. The community at large is being asked to support the program by volunteering time, donating cash funds, and by going to the polls during the hours between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. if you have no children going with you. Students will not be allowed to vote during normal school hours, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Separate voting booths, ballot boxes, ballots will be at each precinct. Not every set-up will be in the same room with the official ballots. Separate rooms or areas will be sought where precincts are not large enough to accommodate the kid's precinct. The set-up will involve a minimum of three tables plus the ballot box. The ballots will be delivered to the school and be counted there. . Impact on the Polling Places We expect voter turnout to be higher. There will be more traffic at each precinct. That It traffic will increase between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. In this year's election, the Presidential Primary, I would expect that lines and waits will be longer. Placing more voting booths at the precincts may alleviate some of the waiting problem. It will help to advertise the program, so that those who do -------- Council Report 2000-70 Pagc 3 . not plan to take children to the polls and who have the opportunity to do so, can vote between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. . The impact on City staff The work, organization, etc. will be carried out by volunteers under the direction of the Board. Staffing the "Kid's Vote" voting areas will be up to the Board. My time will be spent in more of an advisory capacity. I do not expect to spend more than twenty hours on the project. Election Judges will not be expected to work at any of the "Kid's Vote" project. If volunteers are not there, ballots will not be given out. Bobbie Hartfiel will be working on PR projects and estimates that she will spend approximately six to eight hours per week through the second week in June on the project. . Cost to the City Although there will be no expense to the City, (ours is a time donation) there is a cost related to the time staff will spend on the project. That cost is estimated to be approximately $2,000. . Alternatives 1. Approve the project 2. Postpone action to a later meeting for more information - 3. Do not approve the project Staff recommends the first alternative. --