Iowans who can’t wait for November 2nd are casting their presidential votes in local eateries.These unofficial votes are underway in ice cream parlors and pizza places across the Hawkeye State. Dave Panther, owner of the Hamburg Inn in Iowa City, explains how his coffee bean ballot works: “Every customer gets a coffee bean when they pay at the register, then they can vote for whatever presidential candidate they’re interested in. Then we also have a vinegar jar if they’re sour on everybody.” There are eight presidential candidates on the Iowa ballot so there are eight jars, the ninth being the vinegar jar, though Panther admits he can only name Kerry, Bush and Nader without looking. He says all of the candidates are getting at least a few bean votes, but there is a clear leader.So far, he says Kerry’s beating Bush in the bean-counting by about three-to-one.
