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Colby Estes, 9, Ottawa, casts his vote Tuesday morning in a mock election for third- through fifth-grade Lincoln students, as Lindsey Ebenstein, 9, Ottawa, waits to hand him a sticker at Lincoln Elementary School, 1102 N. Milner Road, Ottawa. Results mirrored those in Franklin County. John McCain received 89 votes, compared to 83 for Barack Obama.

Election Day for kids, too

By BRIAN WILLIAMS, Herald Staff Writer

The polls in Ottawa looked a bit younger this election.

Kids Voting gave children from kindergarten through 12th grade the opportunity to cast their ballots.

“Kids Voting is a grassroots, non-partisan movement to encourage lifelong voter participation by involving children in the voting process at a young age,” Linda Brown, Ottawa Herald marketing director and Kids Voting-Ottawa committee member, said.

“It’s an exciting and effective program that engages our youth in the democratic process.”

Turnout for Kids Voting was steady, Nancy Johnson, Ottawa, and Penny Houchin, Ottawa, who manned the Kids Voting booth at Ottawa Church of the Nazarene, said shortly before the polls closed Tuesday.

“It’s a great idea and the kids seem excited,” Houchin said.

The children aren’t the only ones who like the program. Johnson said several parents said they wished Kids Voting was around when they were younger.

For Keith Niemeyer, 17, Ottawa, Kids Voting offers options he wouldn’t otherwise have. It gives him the opportunity to vote that he wouldn’t have otherwise because of his youth, he said.

Niemeyer said he plans to vote when he is old enough and he hopes he isn’t alone.

“It gets them interested and when they get older, they’ll get out and vote,” Niemeyer said about the effects of Kids Voting.

Ottawa Kids Voting Results:

U.S. President

Baldwin — 6

Barr — 9

McCain — 184

Nader — 8

Obama — 178

U.S. Senate

Hodgkinson — 28

Martin — 32

Roberts — 166

Slattery — 123

U.S. House of Representatives 2nd District

Boyda — 137

Garrand — 39

Jenkins — 163

Martin — 16

Kansas Senate 12th District

Apple — 129

Rickel — 52

Kansas Senate 15th District

Schmidt — 69

Write in — 3

Kansas House of Representatives 5th District

Polsley — 87

Feuerborn — 70

Kansas House of Representatives 9th District

Dunbar — 29

Otto — 60

Kansas House of Representatives 10th District

Brown — 56

Coen — 90

Kansas House of Representatives 59th District

Irey — 43

Prescott — 41

Franklin County Commission 2nd District

Riddle — 27

Taylor — 22

Hirt — 15

Franklin County Commission 3rd District

Hood — 27

Barnhart — 30

Franklin County Sheriff

Davis — 73

Goracke — 45

Franklin County Clerk

Perry — 97

Franklin County Treasurer

Hough — 90

Franklin County Register of Deeds

McCay — 82

Franklin County Attorney

Jones — 92

Results from a separate election at Ottawa Middle School:

U.S. President

Obama — 276

McCain — 185

Other — 9

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