NATCHEZ &045; Larencia James, 5, wasn’t really sure who the man in the photo was as she put a green, crayon X next to his name on the official ballot Tuesday. But she knew one thing, if he won, he’d be the new &uot;principal of the United States.&uot;

James and her classmates marched down the hall, up to the registration table, stated their full name for the poll worker, received their ballot and went to secret polling table to cast their vote Tuesday in the West Primary mock election.

And no, they weren’t voting to replace Principal Cindy Idom, they were voting for president of the United States.

Though the pre-kindergartners and kindergartners concentrated more on making an X somewhere on the page, anywhere, the first-graders knew which candidate they wanted to vote for.

&uot;I voted for John Kerry,&uot; Juan Hawkins, 7, said. &uot;I like him.&uot;

&uot;He’s the best,&uot; said Donte Hawkins, 6.

Hawkins wasn’t alone, with Kerry winning the mock election with 138 votes, while George Bush had 96 and the remaining votes were scattered among the five other candidates on the ballot.

The children’s ballots carried not only the name of the candidates, but a small photo to help them identify them.

&uot;I saw him on the TV,&uot; five-year-old Stevanie Royal said. &uot;He was teaching all the people. He’s the president.&uot;

The results of the mock election were sent to the Secretary of State’s office, which sponsored the event.

School organizer Doris Fitzgerald said the mock election had been a staple at West for nearly 10 years now.

&uot;We are trying to get the children ready and teach them how to vote,&uot; she said. &uot;We are getting them prepared.&uot;