MOUNT VERNON — Encouraging young people to be involved in the world around them and to grow into responsible citizens have been goals of parents and teachers almost since the beginning of time. On Tuesday, thanks to modern technology and the sponsorship of the National Youth Leadership Initiative, students at Mount Vernon High School became involved and practiced an important right of American citizens — they voted.
The mock election asked students to select a governor and choose between candidates for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Social studies instructor Rob Fetters said students in every high school social studies class and every 11th-grade homeroom had the opportunity to take part in the mock election.
Voter Samuel Miller, a junior, said the experience of participating in the mock election will help him when is old enough to vote in a real election. He also said the mock election results give a good indication of how the actual election will turn out.
Fetters confirmed that. He said the 2008 Mock election results for Ohio accurately predicted how Ohio ending up voting — selecting Barack Obama as president.
National and statewide results of the Youth Leadership Initiative’s Mock Election will be available the morning of Friday, Oct. 29, on YLI’s website at www.youthleadership.net.
