The League of Women Voters of Saratoga County invites all of the county’s 5th grade teachers in the public and private schools to participate in its “Take Me To Vote.”

This program, started in 2004, is meant to encourage students to go to the polls with an adult and participate in the electoral process.

Students are given a flyer to bring to the poll which is then stamped for verification. The class in each elementary school building with the highest percent participation will receive a plaque and the school with the highest percent participation in each state assembly district will receive a visit from their assembly member at a mutually agreeable time.

“Studies have shown that individuals who have gone to the polls as children, are more likely to be voters as adults” said Suzanne Bishop, coordinator of the program for LWV Saratoga County. “With about 2500 5th grade students the 13 school districts in the county and 199 polling places, this is a very big program for us to undertake, but we are happy to do it each year.”

Any 5th grade teacher who has not yet been contacted may email their contact information to takemetovote@gmail.com before Thursday, Oct. 17, to receive materials prior to the first day of early voting, Oct. 26.

Early voting is new in New York this year and there are three early voting sites in the county. Dates, hours and times may be found at the league website, www.lwvsaratoga.org and the Saratoga County Board of Elections website, https://www.saratogacountyny.gov/departments/board-of-elections/.

By Wendy Liberatore. Times Union, 9-24-19