"Real" kids poll...not an online botted poll.
NEW YORK, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Scholastic, the global children's publishing and media company, today announced the results of the 2004 Scholastic Election Poll, an educational activity that gives children too young to go to the polls themselves the opportunity to participate in the political process. More than half a million students in first through eighth grades from across the country participated in the poll, choosing George W. Bush as the next President of the United States.
Since 1940, Scholastic Classroom Magazines have given students the opportunity to cast their vote for president in the Scholastic Election Poll (online voting was added in 2000). In every election, but two, the outcome of the Scholastic Election Poll mirrored the outcome of the general election.
The exceptions were in 1948 when students chose Thomas E. Dewey over Harry S. Truman and in 1960 when more students voted for Richard M. Nixon than John F. Kennedy. In 2000, student voters chose George W. Bush, mirroring the Electoral College result but not the result of the popular vote.
In the 2004 Scholastic Election Poll, George W. Bush received 52 percent of the votes and the Democratic contender, John F. Kerry, received 47 percent. Rounding out the vote, 1 percent of students voted for other candidates.
"Teachers rely on Scholastic Classroom Magazines and Scholastic News Online for articles on the latest news from the campaign trail and to help students learn about how our nation elects its leaders. The Scholastic Election Poll is a fun way for students to apply their knowledge of the candidates and the electoral process and to get young children excited about politics so they'll grow up to be active, well-informed citizens and future voters," said Rebecca Bondor, Editor in Chief, Scholastic Classroom Magazines.
Students from across the country voted through mail-in paper ballots found in many of Scholastic Classroom Magazines, including Scholastic News(R) and Junior Scholastic(R) beginning in September and online at Scholastic News Online (http://www.scholastic.com/news) from mid-July to October 18, 2004.