Well, Cahokia's newest voters are getting quite the lesson in St. Clair County politics.

Sheriff's deputies escorted a group of students to the polls for early voting after allegations about possible intimidation and undue influence.

The Cahokia school superintendent pooh-poohed the idea that anything was amiss. He said the police found no evidence of wrongdoing. But knowing the kinds of election shenanigans that have gone in Cahokia and Centreville Township in the past -- knowing how heated the current County Board District 25 race between Democrat Joe Morgan and former Democrat Curtis McCall Jr. is -- we are not convinced. McCall, you may remember, lost in the Democratic primary, so the county Democratic Party created a new party just for him.

State's Attorney Brendan Kelly was right to be extremely cautious.

Of course, intimidation or undue influence can happen long before someone goes to the polls. But sending the deputies with the students also puts overzealous campaigners on notice that law enforcement is watching.

The show of concern also sends the message to students that voting is, as Kelly said, a sacred right not to be tampered with. It's a lesson we wish people of all ages would take to heart.