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Volunteers needed for Kids Voting Tampa Bay

By MICHELE MILLER
Published September 20, 2006

Educating youngsters and getting them involved in the electoral process is the idea behind Kids Voting Tampa Bay.

The nonpartisan nonprofit organization, which is part of a national organization, was founded by the Lightning Foundation, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Progress Energy, SunTrust, Caladesi Construction Co., Kids/Teens Rooms to Go, Sweetbay Supermarkets, United Healthcare, the St. Petersburg Times and Channel 10 News.

Those who go to the polls with their parents - whether to vote early or on Nov. 7 - will be able to weigh in on grown-up elections by casting their own votes.

Those votes will be tabulated separately and released on the Kids Vote Web site, www.kvtb.org. While those votes won't be counted in the general election, they might catch the attention of those looking to garner the younger vote someday.

Many students are being educated in the electoral process before they get to the polls with curriculum provided to schools throughout the Tampa Bay area, said executive director Michelle Card. That curriculum is also available to private and homeschooled students.

Card said she is anticipating a great showing for the upcoming election.

"Nearly 15,000 kids turned out in the last election, so we're hoping for a similar, if not greater, results for this election."

That means there's a need for volunteers - about 350 - to help the kids at the polls and to transport the results to the Pasco County School District office in Land O'Lakes, where they will be tabulated on Election Day.

"You get your name in the newspaper and a T-shirt," said Card, adding that high school students can rack up some community service hours by helping out.

Those interested in volunteering or wanting information about the curriculum should call Michelle Card at (727) 534-7893 or Bobby Fox at (813) 728-9605.

[Last modified September 19, 2006, 23:19:57]