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Mountlake Terrace High School | 21801-44th Avenue West | Mountlake Terrace | WA | 98043 | 425.431.7770 | MTHS.Hawkeye@gmail.com | www.TheHawkeye.org
V.24.03 | 5 November 2008
Students sound off Obama the overwhelming choice in mock election
Photo by Vanessa Chea/Hawkeye
Voting machines outside the theater were set up by Nina Franklin, Humanities teacher, after receiving training from Snohomish County. Throughout the entire school day yesterday, registered students voted for their choice of president and vice president.
Election, poll results show clear favorite By Shahrum Ali & Sharon McClintock
registration took place for several weeks during Hawkeye staff lunch and was run by students. “This is what school should be about,” Chris As student “voters” walked toward the theater, they Ellinger, an AP Euro and Humanities teacher said. were asked to give their names, which were checked “Students getting involved with projects that have off a list of registered voters. Then, they proceeded meaning in their lives and society.” up the steps and were handed an electronic card, Terrace did just that by participating in its first- which they inserted into the voting machines. Next, ever mock election yesterday. The mock election they chose their candidate, submitted their vote was held outside the theater throughout school and returned the electronic card. Finally, students hours where registered students could vote for the continued down the steps and were offered an “I candidate they supported on real electronic vot- Voted” sticker. ing machines. The results showed that Students voted on their candidates 73.4 percent of students who voted for a number of reasons. supported Barack Obama for president “[I voted for] Obama. I’m just Mark Ramos, senior, said he voted while 20.5 percent supported John Democratic and change feels for Barack Obama because, “I’m just good right now.” McCain. The other candidates received Democratic and change feels good Mark Ramos from zero to almost three percent of right now.” senior the vote. On the other side of the spectrum, Three Humanities teachers initiated Liya Babko, junior, voted for John the school-wide mock election project. Ellinger McCain because, “[he is] pro-life and against gay organized registration, Nina Franklin set up the marriages and is Republican.” voting machines, and Steve Merlino directed proAt MTHS, 84.4 percent of the 775 students who motion for the project through videos. However, registered to vote actually voted. Ellinger points out that it was his AP Euro and Considering the voter turnout from the last two honors English classes that did most of the work. national presidential elections, Terrace did relatively Franklin was trained by Snohomish County to well. According to the Census Bureau, 64 percent of run the electronic voting machines. “Engaging in registered voters in the United States actually voted voting,” Franklin said, “and engaging in that part of and in 2004, up from 60 percent of registered votthe democratic process is a good experience.” She ers in 2000. said she hopes students will take something out of “This [project] has energized more people than this and get involved in political conversations. anything else,” Ellinger said. “Why study about In order for students to have been eligible to vote, some 18th century king that’s not relatable? I wish they must have registered prior to the election. The I could do more [projects] like these.”
Election 2008 • The results are in
Terrace Mock Election 3% 3% Obama/Biden McCain/Palin Nader/Gonzalez Other
20%
73%
2%
Hawkeye Poll
11%
15%
Obama/Biden McCain/Palin
3rd Party Other
72%
Shahrum Ali/Hawkeye
The results of yesterday’s mock election varied little from the Hawkeye’s poll taken during the week of Oct. 27. Nearly 800 students participated in the election, while more than 10 percent of the students were surveyed for the official Hawkeye poll.