Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged victorious in Nickelodeon‘s annual Kids Pick the President poll, capturing the imaginations of young voters across the nation. This fun initiative, designed to engage children in the democratic process, offers a unique glimpse into the political preferences of the next generation. Harris’s win not only highlights her appeal among younger audiences but also underscores the growing importance of youth voices in shaping the political landscape.
The big reveal, was recently hosted by Nate Burleson, and his 14-year-old daughter, Mia. Vice President Kamala Harris received 52% of the vote, winning over former President, Donald Trump with 48%. More than 32,000 individuals cast their virtual ballot in the “Kids’ Vote” poll from Oct. 3-23.
Linda Ellerbee, the former host of Nick News, the Nickelodeon kids news program, said in 2008 that, “It’s important to take note of who won the Kids’ Vote, simply because so many kids vote the way their parents will. But what really counts is this: They participated in democracy. They voted. How can this be anything but good?”
There is unquestionably a lot of validity to Ellerbee’s statement. Although the Nickelodeon poll is an informal non-scientific poll, meant for entertainment purposes only, the kids’ results via this poll have picked the person who would go on to become the next president correctly, seven out of nine times. The only time that results were wrong were in 2004 and 2016.
Jean Margaret Smith, senior vice president of Nickelodeon Public Affairs, emphasized the significance of ensuring that “kids of all ages are seen and heard,” especially when it comes to their perspectives on the political process.
“We believe it’s crucial for kids to have their voices recognized, and we take pride in how our ‘Kids Pick the President’ initiative has amplified their opinions on important issues for the past nine election cycles,” Smith said.
“Through the personal stories shared by families in the ‘Kids Pick the President’ special, we aim to empower children to advocate for the causes they care about and inspire them to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.”
Photo: Nickelodeon; Canva.com; Nate Burleson Instagram