I have taken my twins with me to vote at every election since they were two. They are now 8. They love going to the poll. When they were younger I would just bring a snack along to keep them busy. They love getting the "I voted" sticker. One year I voted at the end of the day and only the spanish version of the "I voted" stickers were left. They got a big kick out of that and enjoyed learning how to say "I voted" in spanish. They expect to always go with me. The poll volunteers are always very nice and like to see the kids. Well, kids who don't distract from the voting process. If I thought they would misbhave I certainly would not take them. I encourage parents to expose your kids to the voting process! It's our civic duty.

I wanted to, but apparently signed up for a mail-in ballot along the way. So now I can't go to the polls, which I'm bummed about. So I'll be voting this weekend at my kitchen table, I guess.

I take advantage of early voting, which is less than a block from my building. Hitting the polls around 10:30 is a perfect time, no lines, no muss, no fuss. Kiddlet is at school, so he doesn't go with me.

Not a deliberate decision to exclude, just a matter of convinience overall.

Office building. *sigh* Pregnancy has eaten my brain.

Office building. *sigh* Pregnancy has eaten my brain.

I won't be bringing my zoo along with me to vote this year I'm too nervous that one of them would decide to push some buttons and cast the wrong vote or something!!

We'll they'll be coming along because that's what we do--travel around in a pack. My oldest has no school that Tuesday in honor of election day. Our voting station isn't prone to long lines, so it should go smoothly.
Combination of civic education and necessity.

schnappycat,
I was registered to get the absentee ballot too and I was told that I could not send it in and go to the polling place, sign that I had not voted by absentee, and then vote there. (I live in OK).
Another option would be to re-register and just not pick absentee ballot -- that wouldn't work for this election but for future ones you would be able to take your little one.

You should call your county election board to see what can be done.

I remember going to vote with my parents when I was little and loving it. My son is only a year and a half, but I'm a SAHM with no sitters or anything so we go everywhere together- including to the polls. He's already been with me at least once.

Not this time. Maybe next time. He'll only be 13mos and lately he's a bit of a pain so I wouldn't want to distract others. But I certainly will once I know he'll be able to handle it.

since we have mail in ballots here in OR, no doubts the kids will be here, but i won't be reading the form to them

I took my almost three year old and explained on her level what we were doing. She was shockingly good too! Whew!

I don't know, kikidawn. I just got a letter this week saying that I absolutely could not go to the polls since I already had a ballot, as that would be voter fraud. I guess I can call the election office and ask.

What anniekim said. We will because we generally travel in a pack, and because we want them to see the process.

I enjoy taking my kids. I want them to be comfortable with the voting process and not intimidated by it. My two year old however escaped while i was voting this time and I got a few grouchy looks.

Everyone's comments are making me rethink, maybe I should take my daughter with me! We all stay at home all day so it's easy for one of us to just run out, but she should probably come with me as early as she can. Election Day is my son's 2nd birthday

We have to vote by absentee here in WA so no. I guess we could go to the library to turn the ballot in instead of mailing it, though. In a few years I'll start walking him through my research and voting process so he knows it's important.

yes.....since he;s a baby and he and i are always together!