Nationwide, fewer than one in five people age 18 to 24 bothered to vote in the 1998 mid-term election, according to the National Association of Secretaries of State. The program is presented to high schools in cooperation with Nebraska Secretary of State Scott Moore and Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz and is sponsored by the Nebraska Humanities Council and the Connecticut League of Women Voters. Young people surveyed by the National Association of Secretaries of State say that no one in politics seems to hear their voices. Students involved in the Capitol Forum Project will participate in classroom discussions on important issues facing the public and policy-makers, and will vote on their top concerns. During the March 26 forums, students will have the opportunity to report their concerns directly to state and congressional officials.
Studies show that young people are volunteering more.
That's the good news. Young people need to find their voice in public policy. That's what the Capitol Forum is all about.