Barrington Kids Vote

Barrington Kids Vote is a voting experience for kids held at the annual Town and School election in March.  Started in 2023, the goal is simple, to provide something fun and civic-oriented for the kids on voting day.  If the kids are excited enough, it might even improve voter turnout at the local election (2024: 41%, 2023: 28%, 2022: 24%, 2021: 13%, 2020: 32%).  In 2023, over 250 kids voted and they decided the dog tag color (blue) and the names of two vehicles ("Rec" It Ralph and Bulldog).  In 2024, over 400 kids voted and they decided the dog tag color (purple), the name of the forestry truck (Smokey Bearington), when Barrington will Trick-or-Treat (October 31st), and three sticker designs to be used in the 2025 Town and School election.

March 12, 2024 Results (pdf)

We were thrilled to have 424 kids vote!  They chose the purple dog tag, they named the new forestry truck Smokey Bearington, and they decided that Barrington will Trick-or-Treat on Halloween, October 31st.  They also selected three awesome sticker designs.  See the vote totals and winners below:

2024 Barrington Kids Vote Ballot (pdf)

'I Voted' Sticker Contest

On Thursday, February 29th a team of Barrington election officials selected four finalists from each age group to appear on the 2024 Barrington Kids Vote Ballot.

Barrington Kids Vote 2024 - 'I Voted' Sticker Contest Designs (pdf)

We received 73 sticker designs!  Click the link above to view all 73 designs.  

*Note, on Monday, February 26th, we received one mailed-in submission from the 9th grade to 12th grade age group.  Due to lack of submissions, the 2024 Barrington Kids Vote Ballot will only include design options from the remaining three age groups.

Barrington is doing a local version of the State’s ‘I Voted’ sticker design contest.  There will be four age groups by grade level (or equivalent); 0-K, 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12.  Submission details can be found in the Design Template and Submission Instructions and are due by February 23, 2024.  A team will select three options from each of the four age groups.  On March 12, 2024, the kids will vote on a design from each group.  The winning designs will be printed and used as the ‘I Voted’ stickers at the Town and School election in 2025!  The Secretary of State's Office is looking forward to seeing what Barrington kids come up with.

2024 Barrington Kids Vote Logo - Barrington Recreation T.E.A.M.

On February 8th the Town Administrator and Municipal Office Administrator were invited to a session with Barrington Recreation's T.E.A.M. program (a teenage leadership program).  The group discussed Barrington Kids Vote and got involved with the process.  First, the group worked collectively to design a logo for the 2024 Barrington Kids Vote.  All members contributed ideas and Alex, an eighth-grader designed the logo (see below).  The logo will be included on all ballots and the registration banner.  Next, the group worked through a ranked-choice voting process to select two name options for the Forestry Truck.  They chose Bartholomew and Thomas the Tank Engine.  Finally, the members of the T.E.A.M. program will help on election day!  They will assist kids with voting and help count the ballots.

2024 Barrington Kids Vote

The second annual Barrington Kids Vote will take place on the Middle School cafeteria stage during the Town and School Election on March 12, 2024 from 8am to 7pm.  Kids will decide when Barrington trick-or-treats in 2024 (details below), the name of the new Forestry Truck, and the sticker designs to be used for the Town and School election in 2025 (details above).  New this year, the Recreation Department's T.E.A.M. program will be helping out on election day to accept and count Barrington Kids Vote ballots.  We would be glad to visit with groups of kids between now and voting day to get kids excited about voting, please contact administration@barrington.nh.gov! 

1. 2024 Trick-or-Treat Date Decided by Barrington Kids Vote – Vote
   1. By way of background, below is an Ask Barrington answer about why the Town/Select Board sets the date/time for Trick-or-Treating:
      1. Local government setting rules for trick-or-treating is generally unique to New England.  The trend of separating trick-or-treating from the October 31^st Halloween holiday started in the 1930’s to combat vandalism and property damage.  In some cases, the night of trick-or-treating is called Beggars’ Night.  Specifically, RSA 41:11 in conjunction with RSA 47:14, VII allows municipalities to regulate the use of public roads “to prohibit the rolling of hoops, playing at ball or flying of kites, or any other amusement or practice having a tendency to annoy persons passing in the streets and sidewalks, or to frighten teams of horses within the same.”  Barrington has historically adopted (through its Select Board) October 30^th from 5:00pm – 7:00pm as trick-or-treat.  In October of 2015 and September of 2020 the Select Board reaffirmed the selection of October 30^th from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.  If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, Contact Us. (Source: NHMA)
   2. Each year, residents question the need to separate Trick-or-Treating from Halloween.  Additionally, in two recent years (including 2023) the decision has been made to move Trick-or-Treating due to inclement weather.  There is a general sentiment that the Town government no longer needs to be responsible for deciding when residents Trick-or-Treat.  There is also a general interest in all of Barrington agreeing on a night. 
   3. Fortunately, we have the perfect mechanism to put the power to the people: Barrington Kids Vote.  We are asking the Select Board to delegate the scheduling of Trick-or-Treating to the kids who will actually be Trick-or-Treating.  This would be a ballot question on the Barrington Kids Vote ballot for March 12, 2024.
   4. The Select Board unanimously approved letting the kids decide the date of Trick-or-Treat in 2024.  

2023 Barrington Kids Vote

1. See attached, 2023 KIDS VOTE END OF NIGHT TALLY RESULTS