When you go to vote on election day, don't be surprised if there's a 5^th grader at the polls contemplating the same choices.

Santa Cruz County has signed on with Kids Voting California for this first presidential election in the new millennium. The program allows kids in grades K –12 to go to the polls on election day with an adult and vote a ballot with some of the same issues.

Kindergarten through 12^th grade all get to vote on who they would like to see as president for the next four years. The candidates' names, party affiliation and picture are provided on the ballot. In addition, there is a student opinion poll regarding year round school.

Students in 3^rd grade on up are also asked to vote on U.S. and State Proposition 38, School Vouchers. The 5^th through 12^th graders also get to vote on Proposition 32 (Veterans' Bond Act); Proposition 33 (Legislature Participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System); Proposition 34 (Campaign Contribution and Spending Limits); Proposition 36 (Drugs: Probation and Treatment Program).

Finally the 9^th through 12^th graders complete their ballots with Proposition 35 (Public Works Projects); Proposition 37 (Fee. Vote Requirements); and Proposition 39 (55% Local Vote for School Bonds).

"The goal of this program is to make voting a family experience," County Clerk Richard Bedal said. "It is also a great way to teach young people about the importance of voting."

Students do not need to register prior to going to the polls to vote. Each of the county's 160 polling places will have Kids Voting Ballots available. The students must be accompanied by an adult in order to vote. The adult who accompanies the child does not have to be a registered voter.

Kids Voting also offers a curriculum for teachers to use in their classrooms to promote voter education. Some classrooms organize Kids Voting over the Internet in the Virtual Vote program sponsored by Entrust Technologies. Kids Voting will assign a Digital Signature to participating schools so students may cast a secure e-ballot beginning one week prior to the Election.

Schools may also arrange for their students to take home a ballot and vote it as part of a homework assignment.

Again, the primary goal is to involve the adults in the household who may or may not plan on voting.

"Our hope is once the kids vote, so will the adults," Bedal said.

Results of Kids Voting will be posted by November 8 on the Kids Voting California website at www.kidsvotingcalifornia.com and the Santa Cruz County Elections Department's website at www.votescount.com Schools will also be FAXed election results on November 8.

For more information, please call the Santa Cruz County Elections Department at 454-2060 or visit our website at www.votescount.com

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