LISBON, Portugal (AP) 鈥� Children accompanying their parents to a polling station in Sunday got to try their hand at casting a vote, though the candidates weren鈥檛 on the ballot.
Fictional characters popular with children, such as Super Mario and Roblox, were on their ballot paper, not the two politicians in the official runoff. Parents said they hoped the exercise would teach them about democracy.
A polling station in the capital, Lisbon, offered children their say on who’s the best character, in what was believed to be the first time something like this was tried in a Portuguese election and is not a common practice elsewhere.
鈥淰ote for your favorite character,鈥� the ballot paper for the children said.
Catarina Barbosa, mother of 8-year-old Artur, said she thought it was an educational experience for her son.
鈥淚 always like to bring him to encourage him, so that when he is 18 he doesn鈥檛 stay on the couch and also comes to vote,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is fun because this way he also feels he is voting and fulfilling his civic duties.鈥�
Artur said that he recognized all the characters up for fictional election.
Jo茫o Dias, father of 9-year-old Jo茫o and 11-year-old Carolina, also encouraged his children to cast their vote.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important for children to start to understand, when they鈥檙e younger, the responsibility, so that when they reach adulthood they can understand not only their rights but also their duties,鈥� he said.
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