From the Publisher

By Elizabeth P. Valk

THROUGH ALL THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF THE 1992 presidential campaign, we at TIME have tried to keep voters informed on the major choices they face. In one extracurricular way, however, we're trying to boost political awareness among those who aren't yet ready to vote. For the second presidential election in a row, TIME is a chief sponsor of the National Student Parent Mock Election, $ designed to encourage youngsters to get involved in the political process. During the next few weeks, students around the country -- in grade schools, junior highs and high schools -- will be casting their votes on the candidates and major issues. Their ballots will be tabulated in a 90-minute TV special, to air Thursday, Oct. 29, on C-SPAN. The show, an unusual collaborative effort, will be produced by hbo and anchored by CNN's Susan Rook. Though it won't be a scientific poll, the results could be an important bellwether: in 1988, 3 1/2 million votes were cast, and they accurately picked the winner (George Bush), even if the results (59% to 41%, against Bush's 53.4% and Michael Dukakis' 45.6% in the actual election) were a bit inflated.

The main object is not to predict the outcome of this election but to encourage participation in future ones. TIME shares the concerns of many in the media over the growing disaffection of many young people with the political process. "TV specials like Rock the Vote are focusing on first-time voters," says Anne Janas, who is coordinating TIME's participation. "We're taking one step back and trying to influence them earlier." Toward that end, we have prepared teacher's guides (being distributed by Xerox) to foster classroom discussion of such election issues as health care and the economy. (For more information about getting your school involved, call 1-800-533-8857.)

The mock election, started in 1980 by New York City educator Gloria Kirshner, has grown steadily in support and stature. This year local cable operators will participate by supplying taped reports of activities at their local schools, and the Arizona Daily Star has prepared a campaign game for newspapers to run. Political heavyweights are taking notice. Governors Mario Cuomo of New York and Ann Richards of Texas have offered to participate in the special, and both Clinton and Bush have endorsed the project. And what about Ross Perot? He entered the race too late to be included in the already printed ballot -- but there's ample space for a write-in.