Fifth Graders to Vote for Connecticut’s Kid Governor During Election Week: Winner will be announced Friday, November 13

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For Immediate Release
October 29, 2015
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
(860) 246-1553 ext. 116
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov

Hartford, CT – It’s Election Day on Tuesday and as the adults of the Constitution State prepare to vote for their local leaders, Connecticut fifth graders will participate in a week-long election that will determine the state’s first ever Kid Governor.

Starting Monday, more than 27 fifth grade classes in 15 towns will take part in the new pilot program created by Connecticut’s Old State House by voting in the statewide election for Connecticut’s Kid Governor. Classes from every corner of Connecticut were invited to participate in the program, which was established to help inspire students to become lifelong agents of change, active participants in government and eventual registered voters.

Students across the state were nominated by their classes to run for Connecticut’s Kid Governor. Candidates were required to submit a campaign video about a community issue important to them as well as a 3-point plan designed to help other students take action on the issue. The top 7 candidates will continue to the statewide election and their videos will be posted online for Connecticut fifth grade classes to watch before casting their ballots.

Voting for Connecticut’s Kid Governor will begin on Monday, November 2 and conclude at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 6. The winner of the election will be announced at noon on Friday, November 13 on the Connecticut’s Old State House Facebook page, as well as the program’s website, CT.KidGovernor.org. The winning student will serve as Connecticut’s Kid Governor for a full year and will be provided the opportunity to take part in programs at Connecticut’s Old State House, encourage students across the state to take action on their selected issue and more. A formal inauguration will take place at Connecticut’s Old State House in January.

The final seven candidates for Kid Governor and their community issue are as follows (only first names and community issues will be released):

·         Abby, Connecticut bats

·         Elena, Campaign for kindness

·         Hunter, Access to technology

·         Lilli, School spending

·         Mackenzie, Standing up to bullying

·         Nathaniel, Preventing kids in gangs

·         William, Recess matters

The candidates’ campaign videos will be available for public viewing on the Connecticut’s Kid Governor website starting Friday, October 30. Video files can be provided upon request. A press release on the results of the Connecticut’s Kid Governor Election will be distributed once the winner has accepted their newly appointed role as Kid Governor.

To learn more about Connecticut’s Kid Governor, visit the program’s website at CT.KidGovernor.org. Information about Connecticut’s Old State House and its other school programs can be found at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

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