They may not be eligible to vote until 2012, but that didn't stop some elementary students from casting ballots for their favorite presidential candidate this year.

The fifth grade classes at Fairland West Elementary School held a mock election on Thursday. On the ballot: the presidential race and the $2.6 million Fairland School levy that seeks approval for improvements to sports facilities, including a play ground for the elementary school. If the results Thursday were any indication, George Bush and the levy stand a good chance in Lawrence County.

Rick Adkins, a social studies teacher at the school organized the event. His class followed the campaign by watching the first two presidential debates and discussing the issues.

"I wanted to make it as real as I could," Adkins said. "I was really pleased with the questions the students came up during the discussions. They really paid attention."

Aside from the age requirement, students were expected to follow all the standard rules of voting-including registration and poll procedures, Adkins said. Classes were divided into seven Electoral College states with at least three Electoral Votes. To win the presidency, a candidate had to capture 20 of the possible 38 Electoral votes, Adkins said.

Director of Lawrence County Board of Elections Mary Wipert provided the school with a demonstration voting booth complete with ballots and punch cards.

Adkins' classroom was abuzz with activity as students rushed to the "polls."

"They're usually better behaved than this. They're usually not this hyper," Adkins said.

Most of the students were outspoken on their choice for president.

"I voted for John Kerry and John Edwards," Mack Dickess, 10, said. "I think they will do a better job than Bush."

Fellow voter Elizabeth Dick disagreed.

"I voted for Bush, because everybody says Kerry's a wishywasher," Dick, 10, said. "I enjoy having Bush as president."

Even though the students didn't always agree on their choice for president, they said they enjoyed the process.

"I learned what I have to do when I get to vote," Kelsey Chaffin, 10, said. "You have to be responsible when you vote. You have to be serious about it."

Kelsey said she was voting for Kerry, but the choice had been difficult to make.

"I couldn't really pick because my mom's a Republican and my dad's a Democrat," she said.

Adkins said his students seemed to vote the same as their parents. But students said Mr. Adkins encouraged them to

use their own judgment in arriving at a decision. Ryan Bertha's parents were both Kerry supporters, but he said he chose the candidate on his own.

"My parents told me to vote for who you want to vote for," Ryan, 10, said.

At the end of voting, Bush won by a margin of 100 to 43 for Kerry, picking up 23 Electoral votes. Nader received two nods. The Fairland levy passed with 105 voting yes, 31 no.

The levy would help provide a new playground for Fairland West. Currently, the elementary school does not have playground equipment. The initiative would also pay for improvements to other schools in the district.

"I think now that they do understand the whole voting process," Adkins said. "I told them 'the voting booth is a great equalizer. No matter whether (you're) rich or (you're) poor, everyone's vote gets counted. It's (voting) your duty, not just your right as a citizen.'"

So did Adkins think he has any future political stars in his classroom?

"I hope I do I hope I do. I definitely do have some children who are going to be involved in local politics."

On the other end of the county, fifth and sixth grade

students and the special education students at Ironton Middle School had a mock election of their own.

The math classes were tallying the results today as part of a class project.