Suffolk News-Herald

Laura Smith is proud of the job that the leader of her country has done over the past four years.

&uot;I think he makes good decisions,&uot; Laura said of President Bush. &uot;I think it’s a good idea for him to try to get oil from Alaska.&uot; That’s why, on Monday morning, Laura cast her ballot for the Republican party.

If she and the rest of her classmates are any indication, Virginia will add its 13 electoral votes to the Bush campaign later on tonight; in Oakland Elementary’s first-ever elections, the President scored a sound 326-188 (61-39%) win over Democratic challenger John Kerry.

About two weeks ago, kindergarten teacher Kay Jefferson came up with the idea to turn the small school into a miniature electoral college.

&uot;I thought, ‘Why not let the students involve themselves in the voting process?’&uot; she said. &uot;I wanted them to understand what it means to get involved in voting when they’re adults.&uot;

In the midst of the photos of Bush and Kerry and a multitude of American flags lining the walls, Jefferson’s student Victoria Daniels, herself a hopeful future presidential candidate, checked the box below Kerry’s name.

&uot;I never did that before,&uot; said Victoria, 5, her shirt reading, &uot;Future President.&uot; &uot;My mom really wanted me to vote for (Kerry) and I wanted to, because he’ll give us more money for schools.&uot;

Laura’s classmate Corey Whitaker had another reason for going Democratic.

&uot;I picked John Kerry, because I don’t like that Bush is putting a lot of people in Iraq and a lot of them are getting killed,&uot; he said. &uot;My aunt might have to go to Iraq, and I don’t want her to. I was excited (about voting), because we would see which one our school liked better.&uot;

Principal Suzanne Rice wants Oakland parents to follow their children’s example when the precincts open at 7 a.m. today.

&uot;I’m hoping that this encourages parents to go out and vote,&uot; she said. &uot;I thought this was a fabulous idea, because the kids get to see the democratic process in action. It’s a participatory lesson; instead of just reading about (voting), they get to actually go out and do it.&uot;