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RHS students participate in mock election
While the rest of the nation waited until Nov. 4 to cast their ballots for President, students at Riverton High School hit the polls Oct. 30 as part of the National Mock Election
sponsored by the National Student/Parent Mock Election organization.
The National Mock Election (www.nationalmockelection.org) is an organization that coordinates and tallies the votes of students from across the country participating in the
mock election. According to the NSPME Web site, Mock Election officials were hoping for a record-breaking eight million voters by the Oct. 30 deadline. RHS votes were also
tallied and compared with other students in Illinois through the Illinois League of Women Voters (www.illinoisstudentvote.org).
To better prepare the students and gain a greater understanding of the issues facing our country, students in Shannon Becker’s Government, Civil War, Economics and
Sociology classes researched both McCain and Obama. Then, using the information collected, they created campaign fliers that were hung throughout the school. Mr. Weir’s
Government class also got involved by studying the origins of the Electoral College, what it means to be ‘conservative’ or ‘liberal’ and voting for President/Vice President on the
same ticket.
But it was not only the Social Science Department that was involved. Mr. Eaton’s Biology classes discussed Stem Cell Research and Energy, Miss Rogers’ Sophomore
English students researched the candidates and created campaign commercials and Miss Mitchell’s Freshman English classes used election material to help understand
‘phrases and clauses.’ Study halls were also put to use by students such as Alicia Barlow and Amber Brown, who created campaign signs for the hallways. Yet other students
found a different approach.
Days before the election, Miss Becker’s students Ashlee Schoby, Lexie Carver, David Debowey, Derek Meyers, Evan Peterson, Haley Christian and Katie Standish held an
‘issue discussion’ on RHS cable television show, ‘Hawk Talk.’ Also under direction of Bobby Cousin on ‘Hawk Talk,’ Joe Norris and Carly Davis held a ‘mock debate,’ with help
from Corey Craig and Amanda Owens.
Norris, a senior, was frustrated by the fact that he is only 17 years old and unable to vote. He realized he could still have a ‘voice’ by expressing his opinions and possibly
influencing those who are able to vote. Carly Davis, also a senior and unable to vote, recalls staying up well past midnight for the Bush-Gore election returns and looked
forward to doing the same Nov. 4. She feels young people are more involved in this election than at any other time.
On the day of the election, students voted at polls manned by members of Student Government and its sponsors, Mrs. Selinger and Mr. Mink. Sporting suckers and ‘I Voted’
stickers, students took the opportunity to comment about the upcoming election.
Kyle Williams realized this may be the most important election we’ve had in a long time, and Bobby Cousin feels “people just need to get out and vote and let their voice be
heard.” Others had concerns, such as Kallie Mizeur, who becomes frustrated when students who aren’t yet old enough to vote don’t care who wins because they can’t see
how it will affect them. And Dalton Moore, from a deeper perspective, observed, “during tough times, people look for something to grab on to. They seem willing to take a
chance on someone they know little about and I’m not sure how that will work out. We need to preserve our country’s values.”
Explaining his views on the election, Austin Moore said, “I am paying much more attention to this election now that I’m a senior and facing college next year. I want to know
what the candidates plan to do.” With so many tough issues facing the nation, it is hard to know which is most important. However, Amanda Miller feels “the economy is most
important and whoever is elected, will have a huge job on their hands!”
Once the polls closed Oct. 30, the results showing Obama with a large lead were downloaded to both the ILWV and NSPME Web sites. Within hours, the National Mock
election site posted preliminary results, showing Obama claiming 64 percent of the nation’s votes while McCain trailed with 33 percent, right in line with the RHS student vote.
And did the Mock election serve a purpose for students at RHS?
Senior Alicia Barlow had this to say, “Now that I’ve participated in the mock election, I’m looking forward to when I can vote in the real thing! I care more now than I did in the
past.”
While the rest of the nation waited until Nov. 4 to cast their ballots for President, students at Riverton High School hit the polls Oct. 30 as part of the National Mock Election
sponsored by the National Student/Parent Mock Election organization.
The National Mock Election (www.nationalmockelection.org) is an organization that coordinates and tallies the votes of students from across the country participating in the
mock election. According to the NSPME Web site, Mock Election officials were hoping for a record-breaking eight million voters by the Oct. 30 deadline. RHS votes were also
tallied and compared with other students in Illinois through the Illinois League of Women Voters (www.illinoisstudentvote.org).
To better prepare the students and gain a greater understanding of the issues facing our country, students in Shannon Becker’s Government, Civil War, Economics and
Sociology classes researched both McCain and Obama. Then, using the information collected, they created campaign fliers that were hung throughout the school. Mr. Weir’s
Government class also got involved by studying the origins of the Electoral College, what it means to be ‘conservative’ or ‘liberal’ and voting for President/Vice President on the
same ticket.
But it was not only the Social Science Department that was involved. Mr. Eaton’s Biology classes discussed Stem Cell Research and Energy, Miss Rogers’ Sophomore
English students researched the candidates and created campaign commercials and Miss Mitchell’s Freshman English classes used election material to help understand
‘phrases and clauses.’ Study halls were also put to use by students such as Alicia Barlow and Amber Brown, who created campaign signs for the hallways. Yet other students
found a different approach.
Days before the election, Miss Becker’s students Ashlee Schoby, Lexie Carver, David Debowey, Derek Meyers, Evan Peterson, Haley Christian and Katie Standish held an
‘issue discussion’ on RHS cable television show, ‘Hawk Talk.’ Also under direction of Bobby Cousin on ‘Hawk Talk,’ Joe Norris and Carly Davis held a ‘mock debate,’ with help
from Corey Craig and Amanda Owens.
Norris, a senior, was frustrated by the fact that he is only 17 years old and unable to vote. He realized he could still have a ‘voice’ by expressing his opinions and possibly
influencing those who are able to vote. Carly Davis, also a senior and unable to vote, recalls staying up well past midnight for the Bush-Gore election returns and looked
forward to doing the same Nov. 4. She feels young people are more involved in this election than at any other time.
On the day of the election, students voted at polls manned by members of Student Government and its sponsors, Mrs. Selinger and Mr. Mink. Sporting suckers and ‘I Voted’
stickers, students took the opportunity to comment about the upcoming election.
Kyle Williams realized this may be the most important election we’ve had in a long time, and Bobby Cousin feels “people just need to get out and vote and let their voice be
heard.” Others had concerns, such as Kallie Mizeur, who becomes frustrated when students who aren’t yet old enough to vote don’t care who wins because they can’t see
how it will affect them. And Dalton Moore, from a deeper perspective, observed, “during tough times, people look for something to grab on to. They seem willing to take a
chance on someone they know little about and I’m not sure how that will work out. We need to preserve our country’s values.”
Explaining his views on the election, Austin Moore said, “I am paying much more attention to this election now that I’m a senior and facing college next year. I want to know
what the candidates plan to do.” With so many tough issues facing the nation, it is hard to know which is most important. However, Amanda Miller feels “the economy is most
important and whoever is elected, will have a huge job on their hands!”
Once the polls closed Oct. 30, the results showing Obama with a large lead were downloaded to both the ILWV and NSPME Web sites. Within hours, the National Mock
election site posted preliminary results, showing Obama claiming 64 percent of the nation’s votes while McCain trailed with 33 percent, right in line with the RHS student vote.
And did the Mock election serve a purpose for students at RHS?
Senior Alicia Barlow had this to say, “Now that I’ve participated in the mock election, I’m looking forward to when I can vote in the real thing! I care more now than I did in the
past.”
Issue Date: Nov. 6, 2008
