Girls Inc. She Votes 2008

Girls Vote in the 2008 Girls Inc. She Votes Mock Presidential Election

“We get to vote today!” shouted nine-year-old Jasmine as she burst through the door of Girls Inc. of Winterhaven, Florida on Tuesday, October 21. Jasmine and more than 3,500 Girls Inc. participants in the United States and on Girls Inc. Online cast their votes for president in the Girls Inc. 2008 Mock Presidential Election, a part of the Girls Inc. She Votes initiative.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden won the mock election by a margin of approximately five to one, earning 2,969 votes. John McCain and Sarah Palin earned 561.

This year marked the third consecutive Girls Inc. She Votes mock election. Nearly 3,000 girls voted for U.S. president in 2004, and in a midterm ballot initiative in 2006.

Girls Inc. She Votes 2008, made possible with generous support from the Brico Fund, is a nonpartisan, civic engagement initiative that empowers girls to become savvy voters, engaged citizens, and future candidates and leaders. Although women vote more than men, they are less likely to contact elected officials, contribute to political campaigns, and say they are interested in public affairs. The foundation of Girls Inc. She Votes is our philosophy that the seeds of lifelong civic engagement are planted in childhood. Girls must be encouraged to take part in our democracy in order to see themselves as the leaders of tomorrow.

Girls Inc. girls have a clear vision for the future of their government. On mock election day, girls reflected on what they would do if they were elected President. They said:

“I would stop the war, because people are dying.”
- Jessica, 10, Manchester, NH

“I would help the homeless and make the world a better place for people.”
-Claudia, 9, Lowell, MA

“I would change all the things that are happening with the Arctic and global warming.”
-Amanda, 12, Lowell, MA

“I would make things better for people who are losing jobs and their houses.”
-Jadaisha, 12, Winterhaven, FL

“I would probably make summer vacation longer.”
-Ivy, 7, Monroe County, IN

Girls Inc. Online members shared their opinions on the candidates and the race, and also discussed what questions they would ask each of the candidates if given the opportunity. “I’d ask Obama what he thinks of people who are prejudiced, and I’d ask McCain his reasons for picking Sarah Palin as his VP,” said one 13-year-old online member.

Since early this year, girls have participated in ongoing Girls Inc. She Votes activities at Girls Inc. centers across the United States and on Girls Inc. Online, culminating in the mock election.

Members of Girls Inc. of Metro Denver and Girls Inc. at the YWCA of Minneapolis reported as official members of the press at this summer’s Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

Girls from Girls Inc. of Columbus and Phenix-Russell, Georgia and Girls Inc. of Lynn, Massachusetts helped members of their communities register to vote.

In July, girls from Girls Inc. of Omaha, Nebraska met with Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE) to discuss the needs of their center and community.

At Girls Inc. of New Hampshire, 375 girls participated in weeklong Girls Inc. She Votes camp sessions in five locations throughout the state, touring the state house and learning about ballots and voter registration from local city officials.

Girls Inc. of New Hampshire members also campaigned and held elections for leadership positions at their centers, an activity popular among other Girls Inc. organizations, including those in Shelbyville, Indiana; St. Louis, Missouri; Kingsport and Hamblen County, Tennessee; and Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Girls Inc. of New York City and Girls Inc. of Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey held screenings of documentaries that address the historical inequalities of the political system that continue to challenge women and girls.

Currently, in the United States women account for only 16.8 percent of Congressional representatives, 26 percent of state legislators, and eight out of 50 governors. Girls Inc. is proud to invest in our future leaders by educating, encouraging, and inspiring the girls of today.

Share Girls Inc. She Votes online activities with the girls in your life.

Check out The National Political Conventions: A Girl's Eye View.

Test your knowledge on the status of girls and women.