The Electoral Commission has distributed an educational resource kit to more than 1700 intermediate and junior secondary schools throughout the country to help students understand the election process and democracy.

Called Active Voices, the content focuses on four first time voters who are beginning to grapple with the issues that people consider when they vote in a general election.

Developed in partnership with the Newspapers in Education team, the 28-page booklet has been designed to link in with several strands of the Social Studies curriculum.

The Commission’s Communications Manager, Doug Eckhoff, said today the educational kit would show young people how they can become informed and active citizens in a changing democracy. It would also help them explore values and develop understanding about social decision-making.

A series of questions link the lively graphic narrative—Why have elections? What is Parliament? Why MMP? Why political parties? How does government work? What happens in an election?

Active Voices joins another educational resource called VOTE! that the Commission produced last year for senior secondary school students.

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