The halls at Hindmarsh's school were filled with heated discussions about the candidates, even though, as one fourth-grader reminded this reporter solemnly, "Shhh! You're not supposed to tell people who you vote for."

"John McCain is the best," shouted one little boy as he head back to class.

"Is not," came the classic reply.

It's not just talk, though. Most of the students knew their stuff. Their teachers have been preparing them to vote for weeks.

Some schools have had mock debates. Others put together maps predicting the Electoral College results. They've all been doing a lot of reading.

"This election has really sparked an interest here," said James Martin, principal of Edison Elementary in Salt Lake City. "All the students are talking about it. They really are becoming involved in the political process."

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