Retail bakeries of the Retail Bakers of America (RBA), McLean, Va., launched a national cookie poll campaign this month to increase community involvement in the United States presidential election and help promote retail bakeries.

“RBA began the cookie poll for the 2004 election,” said RBA President, Lynn Schurman, co-owner, Cold Spring Bakery, Cold Spring, Minn. “Cookie sales were very accurate in predicting the winner.”

Participating retail bakeries across the country are designing cookies to represent both political parties. The cookies feature colors of red and blue with images of the presidential candidates, their names and political party mascots.

Customers vote for their favorite candidate by purchasing the appropriate cookies.

RBA will announce weekly results of the nationwide poll as bakeries submit the total number of election cookies sold. At press time, no results had been released yet.

Randall McArthur, president, McArthur's Pastry Cake Bakery, St. Louis, says the cookie poll is “a fun way to promote the election and get the community involved.”

And, there are no hanging chads.