It is the combination of classroom civic learning and an authentic voting experience that has the greatest impact on future behavior. This ongoing education and practice develops strong skills and habits for living in a democracy. 

The program creates community, school and family bonding, where each entity works with the others to create a dynamic experience for students. The community component draws involvement from elections officials, business leaders, volunteers, media and many other groups. 

Kids Voting USA's civic learning materials are designed to aid teachers in addressing civic learning objectives. The engaging activities foster group discussion and help students develop critical thinking, information-gathering and decision-making skills. Many of the activities incorporate reading, writing and math to reinforce the work teachers already are doing with their students. There also are many activities that make service connections. 

The scope of the materials enables use throughout the school year. In addition to the traditional Kids Voting USA voting and elections activities, there also are activities related to the right to vote, democracy, and active citizenship (how to participate in our democracy outside of the voting booth). 

The emphasis on giving students an "authentic" voting experience separates the Kids Voting USA program from similar, so-called "mock election" programs. This authenticity is achieved primarily by familiarizing students with a ballot that includes both candidates and some issues that are on official ballots for adults. 

The method of voting also contributes to the authenticity of the Kids Voting USA experience. For most students this means going to the official polls with their parents on election day. Increasingly, it also involves less publicly visible forms of voting. In Arizona, for example, roughly half of the votes in a typical election are cast by mail. Students are encouraged to participate with their parents in these alternative forms of voting as well. 

The national organization serves to define important core values such as nonpartisanship, establishes the essential elements of the KVUSA program including an authentic voting experience, builds the brand, creates education materials, and grows the organization. 

Affiliate: An affiliate is a 501(c)(3) entity that is authorized to operate in a defined territory only through a corporate name or trade name. In some situations the affiliate is formed expressly for implementing the Kids Voting USA program. Increasingly, a wide range of existing not-for-profit organizations (e.g., universities, press associations, YMCAs) are being used as the "legal home" for Kids Voting USA affiliates.