00SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 22                                                                                   
01 Relating to promotion of Kids Voting Alaska programs.                                                                   
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                              
03  WHEREAS teaching youth the fundamental democratic principles of voting has                                           
04 proven to be successful in promoting responsible citizenship; and                                                       
05  WHEREAS Kids Voting Alaska programs have been effective in teaching students the                                     
06 fundamental principles associated with the exercise of important rights of citizenship and in                           
07 promoting lifelong good voting practices; and                                                                           
08  WHEREAS Kids Voting programs encourage discussions in homes about the political                                      
09 process and current issues; and                                                                                         
10  WHEREAS Kids Voting Alaska programs are operated by hundreds of volunteers as                                        
11 nonpartisan, nonprofit volunteer programs funded by business contributions and in-kind                                  
12 services; and                                                                                                           
13  WHEREAS Kids Voting programs have been implemented in Alaska and 39 other                                            
14 states; and                                                                                                             

01  WHEREAS Kids Voting Alaska programs provided the first municipal election voting                                     
02 experience for youth in the nation, and Alaska is the home of the only community in the                                 
03 nation to conduct a Kids Voting program every year since 1992; and                                                      
04  WHEREAS Kids Voting Alaska programs for K-12 school curricula teach Alaska                                           
05 students to be responsible citizens by increasing their understanding of democracy and the                              
06 importance of voting; and                                                                                               
07  WHEREAS Kids Voting Alaska programs will be part of the curriculum in at least                                       
08 35 Alaska school districts during the 1998 - 1999 school year; and                                                      
09  WHEREAS nearly 120,000 students, or 90 percent of all students in Alaska, will have                                  
10 the opportunity to participate in Kids Voting Alaska programs by casting their votes on                                 
11 November 3, 1998; and                                                                                                   
12  WHEREAS Kids Voting Alaska has been endorsed and is supported by the Alaska                                          
13 Municipal Clerks Association, the Alaska League of Women Voters, the Association of Alaska                              
14 School Boards, the Alaska Council of School Administrators, and NEA-Alaska; and                                         
15  WHEREAS the Alaska Congressional delegation, the Governor, and the Lieutenant                                        
16 Governor endorse this program by serving on the Honorary Board of Kids Voting Alaska;                                   
17  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages all citizens of Alaska                                   
18 to develop Kids Voting programs in their communities; and be it                                                         
19  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages volunteers,                                            
20 teachers, parents, and youth throughout Alaska to participate in every election held in their                           
21 communities; and be it                                                                                                  
22  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature urges all citizens of Alaska                                      
23 to join in support of the continued success of Kids Voting Alaska programs and requests their                           
24 assistance in encouraging volunteers, youth, businesses, organizations, school district                                 
25 administrators, teachers, and parents to become actively involved in Kids Voting Alaska                                 
26 programs to sustain our democracy through development of an involved and informed                                       
27 electorate.                                                                                                             
28  COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to Kids Voting USA, 398 South Mill Ave.                                      
29 #304, Tempe, Arizona 85281; Alaska Association of School Boards, 316 West 11th, Juneau,                                 
30 Alaska 99801; Carrs Quality Centers, 6411 A Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99501; National Bank                              
31 of Alaska, 301 West Northern Lights Blvd., Anchorage, Alaska 99501; and Alyeska Pipeline                                

01 Service Co., 1835 South Bragaw, Anchorage, Alaska 99501.