Kids Voting Hawaii is now We Vote Hawaii, and voting for a new logo will be held on Friday.
The nonprofit organization, which educates students statewide about civic responsibility, has changed its name.
The change was prompted by feedback from middle school and high school students who wanted the name to reflect all student age groups, said board Chairwoman Linda Coble.
"It was a student-generated idea of re-branding to bring it to a more mature level," said Coble.
A new logo will accompany the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization’s new name.
Graphic designers nationwide were invited to create new designs, and five were selected and posted at www.wevotehawaii.org, where members of the public can vote for their favorite. Voting will be on Friday.
We Vote Hawaii is the only statewide youth civic engagement project that teaches students the voting process. "It’s a marvelous effort to engage kids in democracy," said Coble. The organization provides curriculum and activities to schools that address civic responsibility, according to its website.
Since 1996 the nonprofit organization has given students the opportunity to practice voting in Hawaii’s general election. Public, private, charter and home-schooled students are welcome to participate. Coble said the organization has experienced high participation among youths in recent elections.
More than 120,000 students cast their votes in the 2012 general election, about 108,000 students voted in the 2010 election and almost 120,000 students voted in 2008, according to the organization’s website.
