Zoo Atlanta wants you to help name baby panda

One week before the nation votes for a new president, voting will begin locally and all over the world for a candidate with a more cuddly demeanor.

On Nov. 3, Zoo Atlanta will open voting for a name for its newest panda. Balloting will continue through Dec. 3.

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Zoo Atlanta

The male cub will be 100 days old on Dec. 8.

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The male cub, who zoo officials said is about 5 pounds now, will be 100 days old Dec. 8 and, in accordance with Chinese tradition, will finally get a name.

Fans can submit a name by either visiting the zoo and casting a ballot at the panda exhibit or by visiting zooatlanta.com — when balloting begins on Monday, said Marcus Margerum, zoo vice president of marketing and sales.

The zoo is offering half off admission on Nov. 4 to visitors if a guest in the party is wearing the state’s “I voted” peach sticker.

The cub’s name will be selected from a final list of 12 suggestions: One from the zoo’s board of directors, two from zoo staff, one from zoo members and one from suggestions on the zoo’s myspace.com page. Five names will come from media, and the other two will be suggested by fans in China’s Chengdu City, home of the research facility that owns the pandas.

Suggestions should reflect Chinese culture like those given to Lun Lun, Yang Yang and Mei Lan, the cub’s mother, father and sister.