Advance voting may be underway throughout Douglas County, but Lawrence-area youths will be limited to casting their very-real-but-unofficial ballots only on Election Day.

And they need your help.

Kids Voting Douglas County still needs at least 99 volunteers to cover shifts Nov. 2 at polling sites where area schoolchildren will decide who should serve as governor, U.S. senator, U.S. representative and in other offices.

The votes will be unofficial, but their experiences should pay off for years to come. Organizers say the numbers of 18- to 24-year-olds casting official ballots typically rises by 25 to 30 percentage points in communities where Kids Voting programs are active.

Volunteer shifts are available from 6:45 a.m. to 9 a.m.; 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2.

“It’s fun to volunteer with a friend — your friend, your husband, your daughter, your parent,” said Lori Johns, director of the Roger Hill Volunteer Center, the volunteer arm of the United Way of Douglas County and coordinator for Kids Voting volunteers. “It’s a great activity to do together. It’s fun to see all the kids come through and know you are making a difference.”

To volunteer or for more information, contact the center at 865-5030, or info@rhvc.org.