NORFOLK

A wide smile all but consumed 18-year-old Lakesha Newsome's face Tuesday morning as she walked away from a voting booth. As a voter. For the first time.

"It didn't even hurt, did it?" joked Richard Peglowski, chief election officer at the Crossroads Recreation Center.

"It was exciting, having my voice heard in a presidential election - well, a primary," Newsome said.

She was among 64 Norview High School students - and newly registered voters - who were delivered by school bus to 16 polling places near their homes.

Giving the new voters a ride seemed like the next logical step in helping them do their civic duty. Norview Principal Marjorie Stealey said the school recently helped 242 out of 301 eligible seniors and juniors register to vote. Virginia residents who will be 18 by the general election in November were eligible to vote in the primary.

Students carried handouts on the top presidential contenders, breaking down where they stood on various issues. On Bus 213, Stealey gave a pep talk about the right to vote.

"You know I'm proud of you," she said. Students applauded, and then motored off on a 2-1/2-hour loop around the eastern end of the Norview attendance zone.

"I'm actually kind of excited," senior Eric Gilbert said, "because when you're 18, you get to vote, and it basically says you're an adult now and can make decisions."

Some were surprised not to find full-curtained voting booths or paper slips to drop into boxes.

At Ocean View Senior Center, Rebekah Hartman walked out looking dazed.

"It's kind of surreal," the senior said. "Finally being part of the country, I guess. Being a teenager and still having a choice - it's awesome."

"Congratulations!" called out election officer Carol Maxwell at Third Presbyterian Church. "We love first-timers."

The students weren't of one mind in their political views.

"I'm not for the war," Stephanie Jackson said. "It has made a big effect on me."

Patrick Krekel, who plans to join the Navy after graduation, said he supports the effort in Iraq: "What we need to do, we need to do over there."

He confessed to some nervousness about the voting procedure but said he felt better afterward, "like I kind of helped out."

Not everything went smoothly. Four students learned they had registered too late for the primary.

"Bummer," said Adam Paul, whose father told him he didn't care who he voted for, as long as he voted.

"Just wait till November; it's cool," Treston Terrell said.

"I wanted to vote," a disappointed Brittney Heckstall said. "I watched, like, every debate that came along."

Voting is big in her family, she said - her mother was up at 6 a.m. Tuesday, heading for the polls.

Several said this election feels different to them: historically different choices; a chance for change.

"Teenagers are considered underdogs, don't concentrate on things like this," Earl Whitehurst said. "It's good to get out there and get your voice heard."

Matthew Bowers, (757) 222-3893, matthew.bowers@pilotonline.com