HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.A. Proclaiming November 2, 2004 as "Kids Voting Day"
Y. A.
CITY OF SHAKOPEE
Memorandum
TO: Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: Judith S. Cox, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Proclaiming. November 2,2004 as "Kids Voting Day"
DATE: September 28, 2004
INTRODUCTION:
City Council is asked to proclaim November 2,2004 as "Kids Voting Day" in the City of
Shakopee.
BACKGROUND:
At the September 7th Council meeting, Councilor Lehman mentioned thathe had been
asked if the Council would support Kids Voting in Shakopee and asked that a
proclamation or resolution be prepared. Staff has been in contact with Kristin Thiel, a
member of the Kids Voting Committee. In follow-up, the attached proclamation is
presented for Council consideration. It is similar to the proclamation used in St. Paul in
2002.
Ms. Maureen Peterson, volunteer chair on the Kids Voting Committee, will be in
attendance to say a few words about Kids Voting in Shakopee.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
If Council concurs it should by motion, proclaim November 2, 2004 as "Kids Voting
Day" in the City of Shakopee.
I: \clerk\election \kidsvoting
PROCLAIMING NOVEMBER 2,2004 AS
"KIDS VOTING DAY"
Whereas, in 1998 the national average voter turnout was 36 percent, the lowest since 1942; and
Whereas, a February 1999 study, commissioned by the Secretaries of State from throughout the United
States, revealed that one of the lowest priorities for young people, aged 15-24, was being a good citizen by
voting; and, that only 20 percent of the 18-24 year-old group voted in the 1998 election; and
Whereas, more than half of young people said schools do not give them enough information to vote; and
Whereas, forty-six percent of the young people said they seldom spoke to their parents about politics;
and
Whereas, in 2000 half of all U.S. citizens stayed away from the polls - despite a hotly contested
Presidential election; and
Whereas, more than 50 percent of all American children are living in households where no adult votes;
and
Whereas, of those people who voted, only 17 percent were young adults aged 18-29; and
Whereas, the United States now ranks 139th out of 172 democracies in the rate of voter participation;
and
Whereas, the Kids Voting Shakopee program provides grade specific curriculum and teacher training to
schools in grades 3 through 9; and
Whereas, students in each grade are taught the basics of voting history and the principles on which our
democracy is founded through exciting, hands-on lessons; and
Whereas, students experience consensus building, group problem solving, living with the consequences
of a vote and what it is like to not have a vote; and
Whereas, students accompany their parents or guardians to the polls and vote on a special KIDS
VOTING ballot; and
Whereas, Shakopee businesses, civic groups, governmental entities and volunteers have added their
support to KIDS VOTING SHAKOPEE.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota, does hereby proclaim
November 2,2004, as "KIDS VOTING DAY" in the City of Shako pee.
Dated this 5th day of October 2004.
Mayor of the City of Shakopee
ATTEST:
City Clerk