Posted on 10/20/2004 2:32:31 PM PDT by BenLurkin
LANCASTER - Who says they're not old enough to vote? Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at Amargosa Creek Middle School cast their ballots Tuesday afternoon during a mock presidential election that reflected a nearly even divide between the school's young voters.
Only 27 votes, out of more than 1,000, separated the two presidential candidates on the Amargosa ballot.
Students erupted as George W. Bush, with 521 votes, was declared the winner over John Kerry, who drew 494 votes.
"Look how close that was. Talk about every vote counting, you guys," Heather Allison told her eighth-grade Gifted and Talented Education students, who helped coordinate the election activity.
"You experienced as close as you can get in eighth grade what a real election is like," she said.
The election followed a three-month GATE study unit on the election process. Students who participated in the study unit learned about several aspects of the election process and its history.
GATE students each selected a candidate to research and then designed posters and wrote essays about their chosen candidates.
"It made this more interesting because we learned a lot about elections and how the votes are counted," said eighth-grader Cassandra Benton.
"We had to research and think about what the person did and how they would run our country," said classmate Lacey Anderson. "I think everyone should have to do the same kind of research before they vote."
Eighth-grader Caleb Shoffner, who voted for write-in candidate Ralph Nader, said he originally favored Kerry, but opted to back Nader after learning more about his stances on various issues.
Nader came in a distant third with four votes.
"I liked his views better than Bush or Kerry," Shoffner said. "They follow what the big companies say. Nader doesn't."
Demonstrating thorough knowledge of his candidate, Shoffner pointed out several Nader positions, including his support for full public funding for elections, an increase in the federal minimum wage to $10, a plan to withdraw troops from Iraq in six months and guaranteed health care for the uninsured.
Deryk Harder said he wasn't sure which candidate he liked best until he watched the first presidential debate.
"Once I watched the debate I liked what Bush stood for over Kerry," he said.
Despite their enthusiasm to participate in a mock election, many of the students agreed those younger than 18 shouldn't be allowed to vote.
"This is an extra program that gave us a chance to see more about what goes into choosing a president," said Alena Murgatroyd. "Most kids our age don't have that kind of knowledge."
If minors were allowed to vote, Katie Jacobs said many of them would either be too influenced by their parents or they would use superficial reasoning for their choices.
"Some students told me they don't want to vote for Kerry because he's wrinkly," she said.
Some students told me they don't want to vote for Kerry because he's wrinkly
To funny!!!
"Once I watched the debate I liked what Bush stood for over Kerry," he said.
Future informed voter!
There's hope for America once the 60's, hippy generation is out of power!
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