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Edina kids are heard at the polls

Edina, Minn., Nov. 5, 2008 -- Over 50 percent of Edina kids turned out to the polls with their parents to vote in Edina’s first “Kids Voting” election. Approximately 3,300 of Edina’s youth cast their votes for President, U.S. Senator and a variety of State and local races. Kids Voting polls were set up outside of each of the adult polls in Edina. 

In the Presidential and Senatorial races, Kids Voting results in Edina were very similar to the results of the actual election.  Democrat Barack Obama won the most kids votes with 2,227. Republican John McCain received 1,049. 

In the U.S. Senate race, Republican Norm Coleman edged out Democrat Al Franken by a margin of 699 to 641. Independent Dean Barkley received 147 votes.

In the Congressional, State and local races, Kids Voting results tended to vary from the actual election.

Congressional District 3: Ashwin Madia, 293; Erik Paulsen, 211; and Dave Dillion, 118

State Legislature District 41A: Kevin Staunton, 216; Keith Downey, 186; and Ron Erhardt, 98

State Legislature District 41B:  Paul Rosenthal, 130; Jan Schneider, 80

Minnesota Constitutional Amendment Question: No, 825; Yes, 620

Hennepin County Commissioner: John Cooney, 364; Jan Callison, 189

Edina Mayor: Jim Hovland, 280; Daniel Azar, 156

Edina City Council: Mary Brindle, 433; Josh Sprague, 371.

“The fact that we were able to get 50 percent of the students out there and involved in the democratic process is pretty amazing,” said Kids Voting Committee facilitator Julie Rogers Bascom. “We received many comments from parents whose children took part in Kids Voting, and every one of them was very positive.”

EDINA 16 produced a five-minute results program recapping the Kids Voting Edina effort. The program can be seen on Edina Community Channel 16 on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. for the remainder of November. It can also be viewed online at www.CityofEdina.com.

Official results can be found by visiting www.CityofEdina.com/KidsVoting or www.edina.k12.mn.us.

Kids Voting Edina is a participant in Kids Voting Minnesota and Kids Voting USA and is a joint effort of Edina Public Schools, the City of Edina and Connecting With Kids, with help from multiple sponsors in the business and non-profit community.  For more information on Kids Voting, visit www.edina.k12.mn.us or www.CityofEdina.com/KidsVoting, or contact Kids Voting Committee facilitator Julie Rogers Bascom at 952-848-3957 or julierogersbascom@edina.k12.mn.us.