Why I Miss Bill Clinton (and other thoughts):

This is my son, then 17 months old, "voting" in 2004. That year, our little trio volunteered with Kids Voting Minneapolis, an organization that sets up shop for kids under the legal voting age at polling places. The kids are given a special ballot (complete with candidates' pictures) and given instruction on the voting process. The hope is that this early exposure to civic engagement will encourage youth to participate in the political process as they achieve adulthood. From what we saw, the kids who participate do so with great enthusiasm. In 2004, we volunteered at the now defunct Willard Elementary in near North Minneapolis. The organization is looking for 400 more volunteers for this year's Election Day. If you're in the area, consider doing a little community service!

Click here to see results from last Fall's general election. Interestingly, if the kids vote had been taken alone, Natalie Johnson Lee would have won over Don Samuels in the hotly contested (and newly drawn) 5th Ward that contains North Minneapolis' biggest "hot spots" for crime and violence. Also, the responses to the ballot questions are pretty compelling - the kids voted 1465 to 708 that the voting age should be lowered to 16 (something I felt passionate about as a teen); 1690 to 494 said they did not support the wearing of school uniforms (this is not shocking); and 1620 to 206 said that they think the police officers at their schools treat them with respect (encouraging).

Even if you don't volunteer, don't forget to vote!!!