Elementary students vote in Maine student mock election

Post date: Oct 30, 2020 11:36:48 AM

Wells Elementary School held a simulated voting exercise on October 19th. Third and fourth grade students including multi -3rd and -4th grade classes voted for presidential, congressional and senatorial candidates using voting booths on loan from the Town of Wells. This voting exercise was their participation in the Maine Student/Parent Mock Elections coordinated by the Maine Secretary of State’s Office in Augusta.

The results from student voting at WES are as follows. President: Biden/Harris 116 votes (59%), Trump/Pence: 66 votes (34%) and “other” 14 (7%). U.S. House of Representatives-Maine 1st Congressional District: Chellie Pingree 73 votes (44%) and Jay Allen 91 votes (56%). U.S. Senator Maine: Susan Collins 87 votes (45%), Sarah Gideon 92 votes (48%) and “other” 13 votes (7%).

The voting took place in the school's second floor foyer. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic there were no parent volunteers present this year to assist students with the process and tally up voting results. However, School Resource Officer Scott Long managed the voter registration table and long-term substitutes Jen Hicks and Kaitlyn Tufts helped with sanitation requirements between voters. Wells-Ogunquit CSD Community Resource Coordinator Maryanne Foley organized this school event.

"We tried to give the students the experience of voting, even if it was during a pandemic year,” commented Foley. “Everyone sanitized before and after entering the voting booths, and stood in line socially-distant. It was great to see the third and fourth graders so excited about the voting process. " WES students currently attending school at home were allowed to vote absentee.

According to the Maine Student/Parent Mock Election web page, “Participating ...is an excellent way to encourage young people to become interested in voting and involved in candidate campaigns and state and national issues.”

The voting results from WES were compiled with those of other participating Maine schools and can be viewed at: maine.gov/sos/kids/mockelection/index.html

WES student Abby Bolduc casting her ballot during WES's 2020 mock election.

WES student Zachary Jenkins casting his ballot during WES's 2020 mock election 2020.

(This photo courtesy of Maryanne Foley)