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Health & Fitness

Kids Rock the Vote

Chocolate and ballots...the secret to civic duty! Under 18 voters got a "taste" of politics on Sunday when a local family set up a voting both in their driveway!

Polls are open today for the 18+ crowd but the numbers have already been tabulated for those who cast a vote with Halloween candy in their pockets! On Sunday, a large patriotic booth was set out in the driveway of the Hoereth family and streams of elementary age children came out to cast their ballot in the 2012 Presidential Election. This "Rock the Vote" event began at the last presidential election in 2008, when the Hoereth family wanted to find a tangible way to engage their children in the political process. "Civic engagement is very important to us and we wanted to encourage kids to become involved citizens, care about their community and the impact they will have on their community in just a few short years." says Hoereth Campaign Manager, mom Michelle. Civil engagement is of high value at the Hoereth homestead and connecting the dots of community and voting is a starting point for this value to take root. Walkers, bikers and minivan passengers spilled out onto this Flossmoor yard, as each child took their turn to cast their pictorial ballot. No one was turned away due to lack of ID or long lines and the bowl of candy sweetened the deal. "I voted!" stickers made it official as it could be! In the end, the votes read Obama 39 and Romney 8 but the spontaneous football game on the lawn seemed to be the real winner of the day!

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