Though her vote won’t help elect local or national officials, 17-year-old Julia Szabo is preparing for when it will count.

The Lawrence High School senior wants to participate in politics, and has volunteered for 2nd Congressional District Democratic challenger Nancy Boyda, watched the presidential debates and kept up with current events. Although she was required to do some of these activities for school, she said she was an interested and willing participant.

For now, Szabo will cast her vote through Kids Voting, which provides kindergarten through 12th-grade students a voting experience.

“I’ll probably be the oldest one to vote,” said Szabo, who also will help tally the results for Kids Voting. “But it will be the only way I can vote at this point.”

Kids Voting is coordinated by the Lawrence Journal-World, Douglas County public schools, area businesses and the Roger Hill Volunteer Center.

Paul Stuewe, Szabo’s government teacher at LHS, said programs such as Kids Voting helped children get into the routine of voting by beginning participation at a young age.

“It allows them to get into the habit and see their parents model what it is to be a good citizen,” he said. “Children also understand it, so they shouldn’t be intimidated by it or be concerned that they will make a mistake.”

Early involvement is important, according to a recent survey conducted by the University of Virginia Center for Politics, which surveyed about 2,000 high school students in 20 states.

Kids voting volunteers, from left, Christy Howard, 17, Sarah Heider, 16, and Shabrie Perico, 16, all Free State High School juniors, bundle pencils for Douglas County Kids Voting.

The report suggests youths not involved in the political system now may not become involved without broad improvements in education.

It found 96 percent of high school students surveyed said they were likely to register to vote in the future. But of the students 18 or older, 48 percent had not yet registered.

The survey also showed 42 percent of students felt prepared to participate in politics.

“One of the things people don’t realize growing up in a country like this is that democracy is learned,” Stuewe said. “It doesn’t always come naturally.”

Though students are required to take history and government courses in Kansas schools, taking a government class doesn’t assure they will be politically active, Stuewe said.

“Democracy is hard work,” he said.

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