By now, everyone knows the result of the 2012 presidential election. But in case you have been out of view of a TV, newspaper, website, Facebook page, Twitter feed, or Instagram account, President Barack Obama defeated former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney last night to earn a second term as President of the United States.

Most news outlets covered the race from the national level, with special attention on key swing states like Ohio and Florida. But last night, Scholastic News Kid Reporters from Connecticut to Hawaii covered the race as it happened in their community. Twenty-five Kid Reporters from 19 states and Washington, D.C., went out to polling places, talked to voters, reported on local races, and brought late-breaking news and calls to Scholastic News readers. We also had Kid Reporters at both candidates’ Election Night events — Coleman Hirschberg covered Romney’s Boston party, and Natalie Wexler was in Chicago covering the Obama campaign.

Their work presents a fascinate cross-sectional view of the 2012 election. There were a lot of similarities across the states — nearly everyone was sick of all the ads, a lot of people felt the economy was the primary issue in the race — but there were unique concerns and feelings around the country, too.

You might think you know everything you need to about the election, but I would encourage everyone to take a quick tour through the Kid Reporters’ coverage from last night. It’s impressive, in-depth, and it brings the election alive — not only for those in the classrooms but for kids and adults everywhere!

The Scholastic News Kids Press Corps’ live coverage of Election Day 2012 is archived on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps Blog, as well as on the Scholastic News Election 2012 website.

Photo: Kid Reporter Coleman Hirschberg outside Mitt Romney’s Election Night campaign event in Boston. (Courtesy Coleman Hirschberg)