[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12288-S12289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL STUDENT/PARENT MOCK ELECTION

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, it is my pleasure to highlight a program 
that brings a greater comprehension and appreciation of the democratic 
process to millions of American students from kindergarten through high 
school: the National Student/Parent Mock Election.
  The benefits of this fine program cannot be underestimated. Students 
who have participated in the National Student/Parent Mock Election 
report that it had a profound effect on them and made them aware of the 
rights and the responsibilities inherent in their U.S. citizenship. By 
stressing the importance of voter participation early on, these 
students gain a greater understanding of the democratic process, 
particularly the fact that democracy does not happen by itself. It 
succeeds only if citizens are informed and participate.
  Many of the ``State Election Headquarters'' which collect the votes 
from the schools will host spirited mock ``conventions'' complete with 
student ``delegates'' and ``anchors'' reporting the outcomes of the 
Presidential and Congressional elections. Taking part in these events 
gives students a sense of political ownership. Students also see first 
hand the work and effort that go into a political campaign.
  State participation in the National Student/Parent Mock Election is 
crucial. For example, in my own state of Utah, Governor Michael Leavitt 
has proclaimed October 30 as ``Mock Election Day.'' More than 46,000 
Utah students have registered to vote, doubling voter turnouts from the 
last election.
  The California Mock Election will employ a formal voter registration 
procedure so that students can better understand the voting process. 
Besides voting for the President and 52 Members of the House of 
Representatives,

[[Page S12289]]

California students will vote on 3 statewide propositions dealing with 
clean water, racial discrimination, and the minimum wage.
  In Kansas, a local public broadcasting station plans to air a live 
town hall meeting. Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and 
the Senate will answer questions put to them by schoolchildren.
  Those who are interested in participating in the Mock Election can 
call the Mock Election's toll-free number (800-230-3349) and may visit 
the Mock Election's new Internet Website at http://allpolitics.com.
 Mr. President, it only makes sense that habits learned young set the 
course for adult behavior. Through the Student/Parent Mock Election, 
young people are hopefully beginning a commitment to responsible 
citizen involvement that they will continue as adults. I commend those 
individuals who have worked so hard to make the National Student/Parent 
Mock Election a nationwide success.


               1996 National Student/Parent Mock Election

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, every Member of Congress understands the 
importance of elections. We know that the votes cast on November 5 will 
determine the future leadership and direction of communities across the 
country, and of the Nation as a whole. We know that informed voters are 
the essence of our democracy.
  As citizens across the country focus on this year's elections and its 
outcomes, the National Student/Parent Mock Election is helping young 
students learn about the importance of the election process. The Mock 
Election offers parents and teachers across the country an opportunity 
to help students learn about democracy, make decisions about key 
issues, and understand the meaning of the civic responsibility on which 
democracy survives and thrives.
  On October 30, 1996, millions of students and parents across the 
country will cast their votes for President, Vice President, Senators, 
Representatives, Governors, and local officials as part of the National 
Student/Parent Mock Election. In 1992, over 5 million Mock Election 
participants cast votes in all 50 States and Washington, DC. Every 
State called in their votes on who would win the elections and 
recommendations on key national issues to the National Mock Election 
Headquarters, as over 20 million viewers watched on television.
  The 1996 National Student/Parent Mock Election is sponsored by Time 
Magazine, CNN, Time Warner, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, Xerox Corp., 
American Happenings, and Electronic Data Systems, and is also supported 
by an $80,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
  The National Student/Parent Mock Election is an on-going project. In 
the fiscal year 1997 Omnibus Appropriations Act, passed by the Senate 
on Monday, September 30, and signed by President Clinton, the project 
will receive $125,000 from the U.S. Department of Education to continue 
to educate students on key issues and the principles of democracy 
throughout the school year that begins in September, 1997.
  This year, the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational 
Telecommunications [MCET] serves as the Massachusetts Mock Election 
coordinator. MCET plans to make the Massachusetts Mock Election one of 
the most important mock elections in the Nation. Through the use of new 
technologies, MCET will reach a wider audience than ever before and 
will provide interactive programming so that students can actually 
debate the issues that are important to them--not just read about them.
  A live, interactive broadcast series of these programs will be 
delivered to all Massachusetts schools via satellite well before the 
election. The first program will engage students, parents, and teachers 
in discussions of election-related issues important to students--
education and employment. The second program will offer students the 
opportunity to talk to local politicians and others working in politics 
about what it takes to be a leader. The third program will be the Mock 
Election Day coverage on October 30. Massachusetts students will cohost 
all three programs with Katy Abel of Boston's Channel 7 News.
  The lessons that students and their parents learn as participants in 
the Mock Elections will benefit American politics for years to come. If 
the next generation of Americans is well prepared for the challenges of 
democracy, our liberties will be in good hands.

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