Students will vote in mock election
By JeriLyn Billings
October 09, 2008
Silver Lake Junior/Senior High School students will vote for the president of the United States and other local officials in a mock election on Nov. 4.
Teachers in the school's social studies department brainstormed the idea of conducting this mock election based on a program called "Kids Vote." Teachers thought it would be a great opportunity for students to learn the concept and process of voting. Seniors in Tim Beikman's government class will spearhead the project as they oversee the voting booths and count the ballots on Nov. 4.
Warren Bledsoe, high school social studies teacher, feels that the voting process is often misunderstood.
"I think a lot of people think that they go and they get a ballot and it says 'McCain or Obama.' But that's not what they are going to see. They're going to get a ballot that will have several things on it, sometimes county questions. They are going to see people's names that they have never heard of, and then be asked to vote for someone," Bledsoe stated.
Students will first register to take part in the election. The social studies teachers in both the junior high and high school will register students with help from the senior government class.
If for some reason students know they are going to be absent from school on election day, they will need to be aware of the absentee ballot. This will allow them to vote a few days before the actual election.
On Nov. 4, voting booths will be set up in the old gym, and students will get to vote during their lunch.
Seniors will count the votes at different times during the day, and "Channel 29," the student-produced news show, will get involved and break in throughout the day with news on how the election is going. "Channel 29" will share the results at the end of the day.
In spirit of the mock election, some students and teachers shared whom they would vote for and why.
“I would vote for McCain because he promises better national security.” C.J. Hamilton, coach and teacher, shared.
Loren Ziegler, business teacher, favors John McCain because he believes McCain has more experience and would offer better solutions for wars, terrorism, and possibly even the economy.
Alan Cunningham, math teacher, feels that Barack Obama would fill Supreme Court justice spots better, and feels Obama has some of the same opinions that Cunningham does on issues in this country.
Junior high and high school students also shared their thoughts.
“If I could vote, I would vote for Obama because I agree with his ideas on the issues,” Emily Taylor, sophomore, said.
“I would vote for John McCain because that’s who my parents are for,” James Page, eighth-grader, said.
