A Busy Parking Lot in Georgia

Last week, in a big state called Georgia, something important was happening in a parking lot. A parking lot is a big, flat place where people leave their cars when they go to a store or an office. But this parking lot was not for cars last week. It was very, very busy with people working hard.

These people were counting votes. You know about voting! It is when grown-ups make a choice for their leader. After people vote, their votes must be counted carefully, like when you count all the marbles in your jar. This counting makes sure the winner is correct and fair.

In Georgia, they were counting the votes for president from an election that happened last fall. Sometimes, after a big election, people want to check the work. They want to make sure every single vote was counted right. This check is called an audit. An audit is like when your teacher asks you to double-check your math homework to find any mistakes.

So, last week, many workers sat at long tables in that sunny parking lot. They were looking at the papers that came from the voting machines. They worked for twelve whole hours! They wanted to be sure their count was perfect. It is a big job to count so many votes, but it is a very important job for our country.

Doing this work outside in a parking lot is unusual. Usually, people count votes inside a building. Some people were worried that others might not see this hard work happening. They hope everyone notices how carefully they are checking the votes. When you notice something, you see it and pay attention.

This story teaches us that every vote is important. It also shows that many people work hard to make sure our elections are honest. Being honest means telling the truth and doing things the right way. We can be proud of people who do careful, honest work, even if it takes a long time in a parking lot!

Vocabulary Words

Parking Lot: A big, flat place where people leave their cars.
Counting: Saying numbers in order to find out how many things there are.
Election: A time when people choose a leader by voting.
Audit: A careful check of work to make sure it is correct.
Notices: Sees something and pays attention to it.

Comprehension Questions

Where did the people work to count the votes?
A) In a school gym
B) In a parking lot
C) Inside a big library
D) At a playground
What were the people in the parking lot checking?
A) New cars for sale
B) Votes from an election
C) Library books
D) Lunch money
What is the special word for checking work to find mistakes?
A) Drawing
B) Auditing
C) Playing
D) Singing
Why is it important to count votes carefully?
A) So people can buy more cars.
B) To make sure the winner is correct and fair.
C) Because it is fun to do outside.
D) So the parking lot looks busy.
What does the story say we should do when people work hard?
A) We should ignore them.
B) We should be proud of them.
C) We should make it rain.
D) We should play nearby.