Low Student Participation in Mock Election

David Titus » Reporter

President elect, Illinois Senator Barack Obama won the national election, defeating his opponent Arizona Senator John McCan 364 to 163 electoral votes. While McCain’s campaign sparked some youth interest when Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin was added to the ticket, Obama’s campaign was truly backed by young voters, a demographic that helped him in the election.
    According to preliminary reports from polling places, nearly 24 million 18-29 year olds casts a vote in this election, and increase of 2.2 million over the 2004 presidential election. This increased interest however, was not reflected in CHS’s mock election.
Of the 819 students who registered to vote only 257 actually voted in the mock election, which made for a very close race. Only six votes separated Obama, the winner, from McCain.
     “We were excited to see how many registered,” began Adelmann, who orchestrated the mock elections and debate, “but disappointed with how many actually voted.”
Despite the low turnout, the mock debate and election at CHS was student driven. U.S. history, Advanced Placement U.S. history and issues in American society students developed questions for the mock debate themselves, pertaining to five topics: Economy, Energy, Homeland Security, Education, and Immigration. Students also worked as election clerks and ballot counters.
     The results of the national student mock election, in which CHS participated, had Obama winning 64.12 percent against McCain, 32.31 percent. This result of course came as no surprise because of youths’ interest in the Obama-Biden campaign, interest that was either sparked by the historic aspect of the race or the issues themselves.
     Because 2008 did mark a historic election, Adelmann thought that students would be especially interested. Having previously orchestrated mock elections at the middle school level, Adelmann felt it would be an appropriate activity for high schoolers as well, giving students a chance to voice their opinions on some level, even if they were not of age for their vote to officially count.
     Senior Anna Fitzsimmons was a registered voter for the mock election held on Oct. 30. “I know every vote counts,” she said, “and I wanted my opinion to be voiced.”
     Fitzsimmons along with 156 other CHS students cast her vote privately in the voting areas set up in the rotunda during all lunch mods.
     Before the election was held, a “Town Hall” style debate took place on Oct. 22 to explain and inform students of the candidates’ political platforms.
     At the debate, the student-generated questions were asked to representatives of both parties — Carroll County Democrat Central Committee member Corynne Courpas and Carroll County Republican Central Committee Chairman Larry Helminiak. The debate was viewed live in the media center by select classes and was later played for the entire school via the morning announcements.
     Although the debate was meant to educate students on party platforms, junior debate team member Nick Pfisterer said, “I didn’t get much out of [the debate]; it was just a bunch of rambling on about the economy,”