2008 Kids Voting Photos and Comments

Thank you to all the volunteers who submitted photos of the activities on Election Day 2008.  They are all posted on the Kids Voting Rochester Picasa page, located here:  http://picasaweb.google.com/kidsvotingrochester

In all more than 4000 ballots were cast, and the program was a great success!

Kids Voting Rochester 2008 Comments at the polls

Kids Comments:

This election was intense!
Superfantastic!
Kids Vote rocks!
That was a blast!
Kids Vote is really a cool idea!
Go Obama!
I liked the way it was set up with the pictures
Vote for that one, she’s our neighbor
I would never vote for ..(Mom clamped hand over mouth)
I want to vote!  Mommy and Daddy get to vote on this side then you get to vote on the other side.
A little three year old boy, upon receiving his ballot exclaimed excitedly, “I wanna vote for Barack!”  A child standing by him with a frowning face, said, ” I voted for the other guy”
I did Barack Obama
This class is really great!
Which one’s the nice guy, Mommy?
I want to vote for Mommy
Mommy, I want to do it by myself!
Oh goody, flags!
This is so cool, Mommy!
It’s fun voting for president
I already got one from school
Thank you
I get to vote in here!
I’m really tired of all that Democrat stuff.
This guy is really good (pointing to picture) and this guy is really bad.
That was fun!
I voted!
I don’t know which one to pick
My sticker is cooler
No Daddy, you pick!
Do THEY know who I voted for?
Should I put my name on it?
The adults need pictures too!
Mom, go away!  I can do this myself!
Today’s the day, Dad!
What’s a precinct?  Sounds like a jail.
That’s him, Daddy!  That’s the guy I like!
Where’s the circle for Obama?
Do I have to circle the dude’s face?
Kids Voting makes the election more fair.
I love this cool thing!
Thank you for letting me vote today – age 5
Geez, I hope I don’t get it wrong.  I don’t like tests!
I always vote for people with cool names.
Mom, is that one (points to a picture) a lady? OK!
Now I can go eat!
I only want a sticker!
Yes, I get extra credit!
In my school Barack was the highest
Thank you for letting me vote today

Comments from Adults:

There were several comments from parents that thought this was a wonderful experience.
A poll worker wrote that he/she observed after two children voted, their mother took them to the side and explained the entire adult process.  She told how similar the two procedures were.  What a great educational experience.
One child came in all dressed up to vote.
That was really cool, thanks – Mom
“Oh c’mon, do it, you can handle it” -Mom
Do you keep track of how many kids voted?
Will this be reported somewhere?

A New Day…

Our day has come and gone, and I want to thank all of you that made it a success. To all of the kids and their families that went out and voted, to all of the 300+ volunteers, to the poll captains, to the steering committee, to Joel, to Julie, to Debbie, and to Judy, thank you! I am so proud of everything that we accomplished as a community.

Though November 4th has passed, our democracy is alive and just as strong as ever. We have a new President Elect, Senator Obama, who is eager to take over our country. No matter who you are, or what your political views are, you must recognize that November 4th, 2008 is a day that forever changed history. By electing an African American president we proved to ourselves, and other nations, that the end of our civil rights movement has truly come. To people of this new generation, discrimination based upon race is simply not an issue. While watching President Elect Obama give his victory speech, I teared up. I was emotional because I was proud of what our nation did. We have reached a spot we could have never dreamed of just a few years ago. So whether you support President Elect Obama, or whether you support Senator McCain, be proud. Be proud to be an American, and be proud that you live in a country where no matter who you are, and no matter what the color of your skin, you can truly achieve anything you put your mind to.

Election Day is Here!

This is a great day in Rochester!  Thousands of school kids will have the opportunity to vote alongside their parents in this historic election.  Thank you to the 375 or so volunteers who are giving their time and of themselves to help with this important effort.

Kids Voting tables will be staffed from 7-9 this morning, and from 3-8 PM this afternoon and evening.  Parents, remember to take your kids with you to vote today!

There were people in line at Holy Spirit Catholic Church (Rochester Ward 3, precinct 3) at 6:30 this morning.  The first Kids Voting Ballot was cast a few minutes after the polls opened at 7:00 AM.

I’ve called in to all of the local radio stations with live morning shows to remind parents that their kids can vote too!  I’ve even submitted something to be posted on the Post-Bulletin’s live blog.  Check out Jeff Kiger’s wall to wall online election coverage here:

http://www.postbulletin.com/blogs/live/110408election.asp

-Joel Ott  8:28 AM 11/4/2008

11/4/2008 Rochester Ward 3 Precinct 3