OGHS holds mock election
By EMILY SCOTT, For The Weirton Daily TimesArticle Photos
“I think it’s neat they get to use the actual machine they use in the election,” said civics and government teacher Betty Smith, who said mock elections have been held at the school in the past with paper ballots.
Just like the real primary, students selected which party they wanted to belong to.
Smith said she will take the information from the election and break it down, including how many students voted for which party, how many independents voted which way, as well as by class, gender, and party school-wide and class-wide.
Students from Smith’s class will also take part in a debate Monday, assuming the role of a candidate and arguing their stands on issues.
They also made campaign posters and put them around the school, as well as 15 radio ads and 15 television ads that were broadcast throughout the school.
“I thought they did a nice job,” said Smith, adding the students did everything for the production of the ads themselves.
Smith also had students who are 18, or will be by November, register to take part in the real West Virginia primary on Tuesday.
Hancock County Clerk Eleanor Straight also went to Smith’s classes Thursday to explain the voting machines and the primary.
Straight told the students they would see some candidates on the ballot who have already dropped out of the race, such as John Edwards and Mitt Romney, because each state sets a time limit for when candidates must withdraw.
Straight also explained that those voters registered as independents can only vote for non-partisan issues, such as board of education and levies, unless they specifically ask the poll workers for one of the party’s ballots.
“They do not allow the poll workers to tell you that you have that choice,” Straight said, adding that both the Democratic and the Republicans parties have sent out letters to that effect.
Smith said there were students who did not listen to that piece of information, saying they were an independent and then attempting to vote more than once when they were only allowed to vote for the two issues.
Students also asked questions about the security of the voting machines, to which Straight replied that there are three fail-safes, a Programmable Electronic Ballot that records the vote total, a flash card that also records the vote total, and a paper trail that voters can observe to the left of the machine’s touch screen.
“This is probably the safest machine they found,” Straight said, adding they cost about $300,000 just in Hancock County.
Students from Smith’s class and members of the student council acted as poll workers.
Smith said there was a good turnout for the election, which took place during the school’s two lunch periods, with about three-fourths of the juniors and seniors voting.
Students expressed enthusiasm to vote in the upcoming primary, especially since it will be a new experience.
Senior Ryan Herron said he was excited because, “It’s the first time it’s something we’re not used to,” referring to the fact that this is first election with a woman and a black man. “It’s cool because it’s my first time and it’ll make a difference.”
“It’s going to be different because we’ve never done it before,” said senior Natasha Richard. “Every vote counts. That’s what everyone says, and it makes a difference.”
“I just hope that through this process students will learn it is a privilege to be a citizen of this country and that every vote counts,” said Smith, using the fact that John F. Kennedy won the White House by one precinct vote as an example. “This is something that’s important for the rest of their lives...No matter what you do in life, you discuss politics.”
(Scott can be contacted at escott@reviewonline.com'>escott@reviewonline.com)
