CEDAR RAPIDS – Joni Scotter and Glen Salisbury know who they want to be the next president and they hope to get the opportunity to cast their vote – in 41 days.

Scotter and Salisbury are the Republican and Democratic presidential electors, respectively, for Iowa’s 1^st District. Iowa’s six electors will meet in Des Moines Dec. 17 to cast their votes in the Electoral College. Whether that’s Salisbury or Scotter will depend on the outcome of the Nov. 6 popular vote.

“So I’ve got a personal stake in this,” Salisbury, 55, said just before he headed out Tuesday afternoon to start knocking on the doors of his Dysart neighbors who had not yet voted.

For Scotter, 70, who first met Mitt Romney at the 2004 Republican National Convention, casting her Electoral College vote for the Republican nominee “will be my highest honor … it will make my heart sing.”

“I will be loud,” added Scotter, who is known for her signature “Woo” cheer that can be heard over the usual clamor of campaign events.

She showed up at the Republican campaign office in Cedar Rapids about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and planned to make phone calls right up until the polls closed at 9 p.m.

Salisbury, who previously served as Tama County Democratic chairman, said his efforts on Obama’s behalf are his way of repaying a favor. Four years ago, four days before the precinct caucuses, he slipped while door-knocking for Obama and broke his wrist.

“The next day he called because he was concerned,” said Salisbury, a phone company technician. “That strikes home. He’s a very generous man.

“So I’m doing what I can to make sure he wins,” he said.

Romney has been attentive to Scotter. He called when she and her late husband, Dick, celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary. He called again when Dick was diagnosed with cancer and this summer when Dick died.

“He wanted to know if I was OK,” Scotter said.

As much as she wants to be at the Capitol Dec. 17 to cast her vote for Romney, Scotter insists it’s not about her.

“It’s about Iowa,” she said. “If Mitt loses, Iowa loses.”

Still, like Salisbury, Scotter was working right up to the end to make sure she the chance to vote in the Electoral College.

“This will be one of the most important events in my life,” she said. “My grandkids will hear about this.”

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