MOUNT VERNON — Students and teachers at Mount Vernon High School are taking part in a national mock election from Oct. 22 until Oct. 31. Students are voting for President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio Supreme Court and on a number of issues.
Social Studies instructor Rob Fetters said students are using a state-of-the art online voting system as they participate in a mock election program sponsored by the Youth Leadership Initiative, a national civic education program based at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. With approximately one million students expected to vote nationwide during the two-week voting period, the YLI Mock Election is the largest secure, student-only online mock election in the nation.
Students in Fetters’ U.S. History class colored footprints leading to the PC Lab where voting occurs. They also researched and created posters supporting their presidential candidates and other offices and issues.
Fetters said a national research study conducted by University of Virginia Center for Politics found conclusively that the instructional components of the Youth Leadership Initiative can have a positive impact on students. “Students in classes where teachers used the YLI Mock Election and the related lesson plans reported a higher tendency towards future political participation,” said Ken Stroupe, the center’s chief of staff.
Director Larry J. Sabato added, “Programs such as the YLI Mock election have the opportunity to excite students about our democracy. Students are empowered with a sense of ‘I can’ optimism that will lead to a lifetime of civic involvement.”
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