Mock Election at Westerville North Educates Students about the Voting Process

11/9/2012

Students cast their votes during the Mock Election at Westerville North High School.

Barack Obama made headlines on Tuesday, November 6, when he was elected to serve for a second term as President of the United States. But students at Westerville North voted him into office the day before, when they participated in a Mock Election. Using a simulator called, “Double-Click Democracy” from the group “Kids Voting Central Ohio,” government teachers at North used the national contest as a teaching tool. They set up a “polling place” in room 261, divided students into “precincts” based on their advisory teacher, and encouraged them to “vote” during an off period. They had to show their student identification card to qualify for casting a ballot. The turnout, or lack thereof, provided a great learning opportunity to discuss the reasons why people choose to show up at the polls. In the end President Obama received 431 Electoral College votes, compared to Mitt Romney’s 374. In the Popular Vote, Obama earned 49.6 percent compared to Romney’s 45.9 percent.