Kids in Calgary are about to take one step closer to the ballot box.

A local organization is launching an election campaign aimed at the city's youth in the run-up to the municipal election on Oct. 18.

Youth Can Vote, run by Calgary's Youth Central, offers information about candidates, encourages teachers to talk about the election in their classes and even holds town hall meetings for kids.

Sixty schools, representing 4,000 students, have already signed on.

"We want them engaged now so they're considering how to vote, the process, the candidates, that sort of thing now, so when it comes time when they turn 18, they're going to be ready and prepared to vote," said Ros Doi, Youth Central initiatives manager.

Not only is Calgary Science School involved with Youth Can Vote, the school is hosting its own mayoral candidates' forum and is webcasting it across the city.

Students at CSS and other schools will generate the questions that will be posed to the candidates.

"Voter apathy starts really early, and I think just because kids can't vote, that doesn't mean they can't be part of a political process," said Neil Stephenson, CSS professional development and outreach co-ordinator.

"So I think if we limit active citizenship to only voting, it's a pretty weak version of citizenship."

The 60 schools will also get the supplies needed to run elections for students on the same day as the real election.