Political Library’s annual event educates middle school students about the importance of civic engagement:

CONCORD, NH:  While elected officials worked on balancing budgets and historical legislation earlier this month, students from Hooksett and Manchester were holding court in Representatives Hall.  The Political Library hosted their annual Kids Voting at the Capitol program for middle school students from participating Kids Voting New Hampshire (NH) communities.

Students from Cawley Middle School in Hooksett and Manchester’s Hillside Middle School and Middle School at Parkside engaged in a full day of civic education programming on June 1st.  The day included a mock vote on House Bill 34 which prohibits writing a text message while driving; hearing from Governor John Lynch, House Speaker Terie Norelli and Deputy Speaker Linda Foster; and learning about the fiscal impact today’s economy is having on the Granite State from the perspectives of Revenue Administration Commissioner Kevin Clougherty, State Treasurer Catherine Provencher, and the Community Loan Fund’s Steve Varnum.

"I learned the process of the NH Legislature voting on specific bills. You really have to weigh all issues, before you choose yes or no on the bill," said Elizabeth Aldrich, a student at Hillside Middle School in Manchester.  "It was also a wonderful day and I learned so much information."

As host for the day, students also heard from Sergeant-at-Arms Walter Sword.  Secretary of State and Political Library co-founder William Gardner also visited with students and offered his encouragement to be informed, engaged voters.

"We listened to the Governor of New Hampshire and the State Treasurer.  It was neat doing an interactive activity where we passed a bill. The day was educational and interesting," said Dominique Valentine, also a student at Hillside.

Kids Voting New Hampshire is a civic education program of the Political Library and supports the organization’s mission to ensure political traditions are passed down to future generations.  Kids Voting at the Capitol is an annual event that takes place at the State House and is open to students from all Kids Voting NH communities.  Participating schools are able to attend free of cost thanks to generous support from the Lincoln Financial Foundation and McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, PA.

To learn more about bringing Kids Voting NH to your community or school, please call the Political Library at 603-225-4617 or visit the Political Library web site.

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Director of External Affairs
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About The Political Library:

The Political Library is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to increase civic engagement in the democratic process by promoting and preserving the state's unique political traditions and ensuring these traditions are passed on to future generations. The Political Library offers onsite educational programs and tours for students and the public at the Pierce Manse in Concord and administers Kids Voting New Hampshire programs in communities across the Granite State. The Political Library also maintains the only comprehensive collection of election campaign papers and memorabilia from over half a century and provides forums for voters and community leaders to meet Presidential candidates. See the Political Library's online collection and learn more about them here.