As voters across Portugal decide their next president, this polling station allows children to also vote, and perhaps even more so than in the adult political arena.

They cast their votes for their “favorite cartoon character,” carefully marking their choices before dropping their ballots into the box.

Potential Business & Entrepreneurial Opportunities

The intersection of civic tech and family entertainment is largely untapped. Here are a few ventures this could inspire:

• Civic Education “Election Kits”: A subscription or one-off box for schools and parents that includes ballot boxes, “I Voted” stickers (kid-sized), and age-appropriate guides on how democracy works.
• Family-Friendly Polling Consultancy: A service for local governments to design “Kid Zones” at polling stations. This increases adult turnout by solving the childcare issue while educating the next generation.
• Gamified Community Polling Platforms: A SaaS (Software as a Service) for local councils that allows kids to vote on “minor” community decisions (e.g., the color of a new park bench or the theme of a summer festival) to build a habit of engagement.
• Character-Based Marketing Partnerships: Collaborating with studios (like Disney or DreamWorks) to use their characters in “get out the vote” campaigns aimed at young parents.

“Which cartoon character would have won your childhood vote?

Tell us who you’d pick in the comments, and let’s see if we can find a winner!”