🎥 Brothers choose those who’ll ‘do a good job’ in Kids Voting Kansas

Ajoni and Kiros Smolarkiewicz cast their ballots Tuesday morning in Kids Voting USA-Kansas.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Casting his ballot today went a little faster than in other years for Hays resident Ajoni Smolarkiewicz. He was happy about that since he had to get to school on time.

The 5th grader at O’Loughlin Elementary School and his brother Kiros, a student in 2B, accompanied their mother Misty early this morning to the Hays Recreation Center where they all voted in the hotly contested midterm election. The family was waiting in line before the polls opened at 7 a.m.

Ajoni, 10, and Kiros, 7, participated in Kids Voting USA-Kansas set up in the corner of a HRC gymnasium.

“We voted for some of the people who we think will do good in our community and our ecosystem,” said Ajoni after he slid his ballot into the box. Ajnoi wants to be a veterinarian when he grows up and he “likes a healthy ecosystem.”

The brothers made their decisions after watching their mom do her own candidate research. “I looked at all the people I thought would be good,” Ajoni said, “and that’s who I voted for today.”

Kiros agreed. He voted for those candidates he believes will “do a good job.”

Both youngsters proudly wore their “I Voted” stickers and, unlike the adults, were also given a McDonald’s free meal coupon.

The Kids ballot has pictures of the candidates.

The Kids ballot has the same races as the regulation ballot, plus pictures of the candidates, explained Kids Voting volunteer Patrick Trapp.

“In this location, they’re also voting in the Ellis County Commission First District race,” Trapp added.

This is the first time Trapp, a Nex-Tech employee, has volunteered for the project.

“I’m an early morning person and I said I’d take the early shift,” he said.

Joining Trapp was his colleague Niki Clark. Nex-Tech employees have participated in Kids Voting for many years.

Also working 7-8 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. for Kids Voting Kansas are employees of Hays Daily News, McDonald’s, Golden Plains Credit Union and Wayne Voss State Farm Agency, and TMP-Marian High School Key Club members.

Parents are encouraged to bring their K-12th grade children with them to the Hays polling sites.

Volunteers Patrick Trapp and Niki Clark work the Kids Voting booth at the Hays Recreation Center.

“The kids are prepared and putting some thought into it They’re taking it seriously, I believe,” Trapp added.

Hays High School government students will tally the voting results after the polls close at 7 p.m. and will release the information to the public.