Every year, millions of children around the world arrange their own Global Vote for the Rights of the Child. They come to cast their votes on camels and bicycles, in boats, on foot in snowmobiles or horse drawn carriages.
In the first Global Vote in 2001, 19,000 children participated. In 2009, over 7.1 million children voted. Even children in single-party states and living under dictatorships participate. In Burma, children use magazines and ballots smuggled across the boarder from Thailand. In Zimbabwe, over half a million children have participated in voting organised by the girls in the Girl Child Network.
Who can organise a Global Vote?
Sometimes adults arrange Global Votes for children, but usually young people do it themselves. That way you learn about how a democratic election works. Any school or children’s group in the world can organise a Global Vote. The only condition is that they register as a Global Friend, at the latest when they report the result of their vote.
Ballot papers
Use the ones you get from the World’s Children’s Prize (here), or make your own.
> Download ballots here!
How do we report the results of our Vote?
The results of the Global Vote must be reported to the World’s Children’s Prize. Use our online ballot box or email to prize@worldschildrensprize.org, fax to +46-159-108 60, or post to the World’s Children’s Prize, Box 150, 647 24 Mariefred, Sweden.
> Go to the online Ballot Box
Can I vote, even if my school is not a Global Friend?
Ideally, you should participate in the Global Vote through your school or group. If you have tried without success to get them involved, we will make an exception for you. In that case, you have to register yourself as an individual Global Friend here. After that you can cast your vote here.
