Mock election gives students a taste of the real process.

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Students in the Hart School District joined their counterparts across the state in a MyVote California exercise geared to stimulate student interest in elections and the democratic process. Students voted in their classrooms on 48 presidential primary candidates registered in the State of California and on three ballot measures geared specifically to student interests.

Results have been turned in to the California Secretary of State’s office, where they will be tallied and statewide results released. Those results often vary widely from the actual votes their parents will cast next week, according to Robert Walker, who teaches government and Honors U.S. History classes at Academy of the Canyons.

The “ballot measures” included a proposal to base DMV fees on the amount of pollution a vehicle emits, whether all eligible citizens should be required by law to vote, and whether e-bullying should be protected as a right of free speech.

Walker’s students discussed the pros and cons of each issue and each candidate, and then voted by secret ballot in an open primary format, where they could vote for any candidate regardless of party affiliation.

At Golden Valley High School, all seniors were poised to participate in the mock election, with 400 student ballots expected to be cast. Social studies teacher Christina van Langenberg spearheaded the project at Golden Valley.

Students in van Langenberg’s government and economics classes discussed the issues and candidates. The actual mock vote took place Monday and Tuesday.

Results will be tallied and turned in to the state by the end of the school day Tuesday.    

All ninth graders at the Hart District’s new Early College High School also participated in the project, with actual voting conducted on Monday, Jan. 28, during advisory period. A classroom instruction and discussion component led up to the actual voting.

At West Ranch High School, the mock election was coordinated by social studies teachers Sean Legaux, Sara Ehrman and Vincent Oliver. Just over 600 seniors were slated to participate in their government and economics classes.