early 16,000 Boston schoolchildren made their first trips to the polls Tuesday, mirroring their parents in their overwhelming support of Vice President Al Gore.
Kids Voting Boston, part of a national civic education program that encourages children to participate in the electoral process alongside their parents, sponsored a youth election that saw Gore win 72.2 percent of the vote in Boston. Texas Governor George W. Bush pulled in 24.1 percent, according to Kids Voting results.
The Kids Voting program, which includes civics lessons for children from kindergarten through high school, attempts to make the voting experience as authentic as possible, organizers say. Children report to local polling precincts, check in, and fill out paper ballots in private voting booths.
Boston kids also voted in the Senate race, reelecting Senator Edward M. Kennedy with 50.9 percent. Libertarian Carla Howell edged out Republican Jack E. Robinson, 26.2 percent to 22.9 percent, respectively.
Children also sided with their parents on several state ballot questions, supporting a measure that would prohibit convicted felons from voting for many state offices, and opposing a ban on dog racing and a state drug treatment trust fund.
The Kids Voting election did, however, have a different outcome on Question 4, an income tax cut that opponents say would deprive the state of funds for education and health-care efforts. Boston children defeated the measure, with 54.1 percent of the vote.
