Costa Rica's Success a Model for Kansas Kids Voting Program
By Alicia Henrikson, Journal-World

A festive environment on a Sunday could be the reason why parents, grandparents and children turn out by the thousands to vote on election days in Costa Rica.

It also could explain why the country has seen voter turnout range from 86 percent to 94 percent since 1950, when the country passed new constitutional measures.

"Election day is a big part of our society, and it's a family matter," Patricia Fumero, associate professor and researcher at the University of Costa Rica, said Monday while speaking with members of the Kids Voting Douglas County campaign and Kansas Appeals Court Judge G. Joseph Pierron Jr., who is chairman of Kids Voting Kansas.

Kids Voting Douglas County is coordinated by the Lawrence Journal-World, Douglas County public schools, area businesses and the Roger Hill Volunteer Center. The program provides children the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.

Kids Voting USA is based on the program in Costa Rica, said Kids Voting Douglas County member Paul Stuewe.

Fumero, a visiting professor at Kansas University, spoke about Costa Rica's elections and the country's voting program for children.

"It's very interesting because candidates visit the schools where children vote," she said. "The children are interviewed by the media just like adults. They are given the sense that they are important."

The Costa Rican program requires that all children planning to participate in the country's election day, which occurs the second Sunday in February every four years, file for a national identification card. All people planning to vote must have the card.

"It also gives kids a sense of identity and responsibility," Fumero said of the national identification card.

In Douglas County, children don't have to register ahead of time or have an identification card.

They go to polling sites with their parents to participate in Kids Voting.