KEYPORT — A democracy — a form of government literally defined as “rule by the people” — is only as strong as its citizens’ informed involvement.

However, as civics education in Washington state schools has become increasingly buried under the focus on core subject requirements, so too has voter turnout under the many deadlines, attractions and distractions of citizens’ everyday life.

Of Kitsap County’s estimated 240,661 residents in 2005, there were 134,741 registered voters. Of those voters, only 80,977 — roughly 60 percent — cast ballots in the 2005 general election, according to the Kitsap County Census Bureau and Auditor’s office.

“Too many people who don’t vote simply say, ‘I don’t care,’ and that’s the kind of attitude we want to change,” said Pam Hamon, education committee chairwoman of the League of Women Voters of Kitsap County.

To that end, the League of Women Voters is hosting a civics forum at 4 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Keyport Naval Museum off of State Route 308 in Keyport. After a presentation by Caleb Perkins, director of the department of social studies with the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Education, about new 2008 assessment requirements, the event will feature a discussion concerning what each of the Kitsap County and Bainbridge Island school districts are teaching now with regard to civics.

“Public schools were started with the thought that our citizens need to be educated to read so they would be able to vote,” North Kitsap School Board president Catherine Ahl said. “Part of the reason for having this forum is to find out what sort of civics are being taught (now).”

Another part of the forum will be Perkins’ presentation outlining upcoming OSPI requirements of classroom-based assessments for social studies curriculum.

“Across the board, there has always been a concern that the (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) only concentrates on math and science and English, while all of these other subjects are put on the back burner,” Hamon said. “Because there is not (state) testing of these areas, it’s really left up to the school district and the community to indicate that they want to have this.”

The final piece to the forum will be to get an indication of how important civics education is in the North Kitsap community, Hamon added. Teachers and administrators, parents and civic and community groups as well as PTA and school board members and tribal and government officials are all encouraged to attend.

“You have the right to vote, but you also have the responsibility to be informed,” Ahl said.

In the spirit of being informed and active in the community, citizens are encouraged to attend the forum as an audience question-and-answer session will commence following the school districts’ presentations at the forum.