It’s not scientific and it’s not something fancy done by The New York Times or USA Today.

But, for those who await the results of Ed Hagemann’s Pancake Poll, the results are as good as gold &045;&045; or maybe a blueberry pancake.

Held the Tuesday before each election, the voters at Ed’s Pancake House predict who will be U.S. President, state governor, state senators, right down to the District 67 race.

And 85 percent of the time, their polls are right. The 200-300 people who vote in the Pancake Poll have accurately picked the President every time. They only missed the governor’s race once. You’d be hard-pressed to find that accurate results on CNN.

The Pancake Poll has captured the attention of the nation since 1980. And why is that?

Because, it is promoting civic involvement and urging people to vote. Ed and Pat Hagemann noticed their customers did not know much about the candidates they would be voting for, which is why they started the poll to begin with.

Despite all of the mud-slinging done by politicians through debates and television ads, it simply doesn’t motivate people to get out and vote. Polls such as Hagemann’s does. After all, one of the favorite pastimes in this country is being an armchair quarterback or backseat driver.

When the Pancake Poll is held up there and embraced by politicians as being accurate year after year, you know they’re doing something right.

So, head on down to Ed’s Pancake House. The poll might be over, but the hot coffee, pancakes, eggs and bacon are still there. So are the people. And, there will still be political talk. After all, Mayor Perkins is up for reelection in 2003.