(DURHAM, October 13, 2004) - More than 66,000 students from across the state will vote in their schools for President of the United States, Governor of New Hampshire, and U.S. Senate and two U.S. House of Representatives seats for New Hampshire during the New Hampshire Mock Election from October 18 - 27, 2004. The results will be announced October 27 at 7 p.m. during a special event for participating schools at the New Hampshire Public Television Broadcast Center in Durham. Results will be posted at the New Hampshire Mock Election web site at www.nhptv.org/mockelection. The Mock Election encourages students to become a part of the electoral process. There are now 70 million youth and children under the age of 18 in the United States-the largest ever generation in this age group. Only thirty-seven percent of New Hampshire's 18-24 year olds voted in the 2000 election compared to 74% of voters age 25+, according to data from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at the University of Maryland. Over the past few months, students have been researching and learning more about the candidates and issues. They are holding debates, attending campaign events, and writing papers. Nicholas Donohue, New Hampshire Student/Parent Mock Election Honorary Chair and New Hampshire Commissioner of Education, has encouraged participation in this event as "an exciting opportunity for students to learn about the electoral process and to realize the relevance of politics and voting in their lives.""Students' involvement with learning the voting process has allowed them to create a giant 'issues board' that is now posted in our school for the students and public to gain a better understanding of each candidate and where they stand on issues that effect their lives," notes Derek L. Patterson, a middle school social studies teacher at Whitefield Elementary School.Theresa Keane, a teacher at New Searles Elementary School in Nashua, reports that her school plans to hold its election on Tuesday, October 19. Nashua City Clerk Paul Bergeron will come to the school to help students set up real voting booths. Students will take part in a mock candidates forum before the mock election. Keene High School social studies teacher Rachael Summe-Leonard has students watching the presidential candidate debates and researching the candidates' positions. She reports that there is a voter registration drive at school and they hope to register all 98 seniors who are eligible to vote. Students have made an electoral college map, and are making a video about the elections. In conjunction with the New Hampshire Mock Election, the League of Women Voters of New Hampshire is sponsoring a poster and essay contest, "Why Every Vote Counts," for students in grades 1-12. The New Hampshire Mock Election is made possible in part by grants from the Kidz 1st Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the Lane and Elizabeth Dwinell Charitable Trust. It is supported by the New Hampshire Department of Education, the New Hampshire Council for the Social Studies, New Hampshire Public Television, the New Hampshire League of Women Voters, the University of New Hampshire Education Department, and the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College.Beyond its award-winning local and national television programs, NHPTV is a leader in education and community outreach. NHPTV provides instructional services for 206,000 students from kindergarten through high school; offers Ready To Learn programs and services for children preschool to age 8, parents, and early education professionals; and provides professional development programs and advanced technology training for educators in New Hampshire and neighboring states. For more information about NHPTV programs that entertain, educate and enrich, visit www.nhptv.org.
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