School's mock election sees overwhelming victory for GOP candidate
Students at Parkway High School had quite a decision to make Tuesday morning.
One week before the nation selects who they want to be President of the United States, students made their own pick for who they want in the oval office quite clear during the 11th annual quadrennial Presidential mock election.
For weeks, students prepped speeches, practiced skits and researched their assigned homeroom state. Meredith McGovern, social studies department chair, said the mock election has been a tradition at Parkway High School since 1972 and gives those too young to vote a chance to have their voice heard.
“Many of them don't get a vote just yet, but it's important for them to see and experience what it's like to vote,” she said.
For the first time, students cast their votes live and the results were announced immediately following the vote. Students took the stage state by state and announced which candidate received their electoral votes.
Tension grew and students sat on the edge of their seats, cheering as their favorite candidate received votes. By the time students representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia crossed the stage, Gov. Mitt Romney (R) won by a landslide, receiving 418 of the electoral college votes to President Barack Obama's (D) 120. Only 270 votes are needed to win the election.
Parkway's record for matching the national race outcome is quite impressive. According to McGovern, the student body has supposedly been wrong just three times in 30 years.
State Senator Barrow Peacock praised Parkway for their role in teaching youth on how the election process works and the importance of voting. While he hopes the election results of Nov. 6 will match the school's track record of accuracy, Peacock said it's important for people to realize just how much their vote really counts.
“This drives home that they need to vote regardless of who they choose to vote for,” he said. “I'm thrilled with the outcome of this election, but it's important to recognize that the entire student body was involved. They voted and their vote matters.”
