Students Start Early at Exercising Right to Vote
Students at Merrill Middle School took part in a mock election today, while across the nation the real thing was underway during this mid-term Election Day.
Today’s the midterm Election Day, a day when every member of the U.S. House of Representatives – along with some U.S. Senators, Governors and a host of state and local officials – stand for election. Millions of eligible voters ages 18 and older will be casting their ballots from coast to coast, including here in Iowa.
But those under the age of 18 are also getting a taste of what democracy is all about.
Merrill Middle School is no longer an official polling place on Election Day as it was for much of its history since opening in 1961. But it remains a top notch training site for citizenship.
Social Studies teacher Dave O’Connor is all about the business of cranking out fully engaged and informed citizens. It matters to him that students take their rights and their role seriously.
Today in the school library (what better place?) voting booths are in place and the polls are open throughout the school day for voters to come in shifts by grade during their social studies class period and make their mark.
The students participated in an online mock election sponsored by the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
Several blocks east on Grand Avenue, at the Downtown School, younger students were also getting a sample of the electoral process.
Elementary students at the Downtown School have been registering to vote over the past week, and creating signs and stickers. The older students created a video showing the younger students how to vote on election day. Today, they’ll all cast their ballots.
Mrs. Teri Arbogast has been instrumental in helping students learn about the process as they prepare to cast their mock votes for Governor, U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative.
