The 2012 Presidential election is around the corner and this year, kids can vote for the next President! The Scholastic Student Vote opened today, giving kids across the country the chance to vote between President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor and presumed Republican nominee, Mitt Romney. The online vote is open through October 10th, so be sure to have your kids or students cast their ballot before then!

The Scholastic Student Vote has a long history dating back to the 1940 Presidential election, and kids have voted during every election since then. The amazing thing is that in all but two contests, the Scholastic Student Vote has mirrored the outcome of the general election (the only exceptions were in 1948 when students chose Thomas E. Dewey over Harry S. Truman and in 1960 when more students voted for Richard M. Nixon than John F. Kennedy).

Of course, kids weren’t always able to vote online — the tradition of the vote began in Scholastic Classroom Magazines with  paper ballots that teachers could mail in for their class. The paper ballot is still an option this year, and we can’t wait until our office is filled with the piles of ballots waiting to be counted!

Of course, it’s important for kids to be informed about the candidates and the issues surrounding the election this year as well, and the Scholastic 2012 Election site is the perfect place for them to learn more. The site is totally free, and you can find articles written by the talented Scholastic News Kid Reporters, background information on the electoral process, plus fun games and videos. Stay tuned over the next few months as the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps heads to the Conventions and counts down to the election!

So tell us, how do you talk to your kids or students about the Presidential election? Let us know in the comments!