While kids all over Northfield participated in the Kids’ Voting program, 19 students from Prairie creek community school wanted to be involved in the real election. They decided to do an exit poll on Election Day.

          The students learned about the strict regulations regarding polling locations.  “At first we didn’t understand why we had to be 100 feet away – but then we learned about voter intimidation.  Now we understand,” explained Devyn Gardner.

          A committee came up with questions which dealt with campaign issues.  “We thought it would be rude to ask people who they voted for,” said Connor Rohwer.

          On election morning, the class split up and went to five different precincts to collect data.  125 community members volunteered to take the survey.  “It was freezing, but worth it.  It was cool,” said Aaron Krause, “I wish we could have voted but I have to wait eight more years.”

          Students came back to the classroom to analyze data, and meet their afternoon deadline.

          Throughout all of the people asked, 46% said that Iraq was the most important issue in the campaign.  The environment, jobs and health received 13-14% each.  When asked if they liked the candidate they voted for or simply didn’t like the other candidate, 67.2% of respondents answered that they liked their candidate and “disliked the other” got 32.8%  In addition, people were asked to write in what they liked about their candidate.  Out of 125 people, 40 people answered “honesty,” 22 people answered “intelligent,” 16 people answered “leadership,” 14 people answered “ideas.”