By 6 o’clock Tuesday evening, we will have voting results -for Kids Voting Hawaii that is.
More than 100,000 children from around the state are voting on the same ballot their parents will have.
At Mid-Pacific Institute, the students have the added advantage of being able to vote on their personal iPads.
The breezeway is lined with voting booths and the kids are eager to exercise their right to choose candidates thanks to Kids Voting Hawaii. Student Activities director Ann Kondo is on board.
"We believe that it’s really important for them to understand that it’s a privilege and a responsibility and we’d like them to make informed and educated decisions once they step into that booth," Kondo says.
Eighth grader Gianluca Vassalli gives a demonstration of how the kids work their i-pads.
"So I could either choose Linda Lingle or Mazie Hirono and then I continue going down choosing different candidates that I think would be the best choice in office, " Vassalli explains.
While he realizes his vote doesn’t count in the actual election, he says it’s good practice for the students.
"Everybody should have a say in what would be best for the country," he says.
And it’s interesting to find out the kids don’t always vote like their parents.
"I have my own ideas. I mean their opinion is not necessarily my exact opinion. Everyone has a different opinion and personality," says eighth grader Rachel Tanaka.
Each of the 8th graders were assigned research on different candidates. Celia Oleshansky says it was a great learning opportunity and she would encourage all kids to take part.
"Yeah, I would because it’s good to know what our country is looking for and what our future leaders could be and I think the more you know about it and the better educated you are, the more interesting it is and once you found who won you can take pride in saying, oh, I voted for that person," she says.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
