Tony Stark or Peter Parker? These students learn how to vote through mock election
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Tony Stark or Peter Parker for senator? Students across the region were faced with the decision of which Marvel character to elect this fall during a mock election hosted by Sacramento County.
The purpose of the mock elections put on by the county Department of Voter Registration and Elections isn’t to merely take stock of which superhero is the most popular among local teens, but to engage 16- to 18-year-olds in a version of the election process so they are prepared when it is their turn to vote.
“It introduces them to the elections process,” county spokesperson Ken Casparis said. “Maybe they don’t know the process of registering to vote or what it looks like when you actually have a ballot in your hand, so it gives them real world experience. It gets them excited for the voting process and democracy.”
Students in Shawnecee Schneider’s government class at West Campus High School in Fruitridge Manor were given a realistic (but not enough so to be confused with a legitimate) ballot with fake candidates and measures, but real contests. Students were asked to vote in all of the contests that will be listed on the real ballot regionally this November — from state senator to city council.
Student Sophia Quiroz said the exercise made her more aware of races beyond the presidential contest. Nina Thornton, 18, said that although she still felt nervous about the election, the mock election helped prepare her to vote for the first time this November.
“I don’t remember learning that much about how the election really works,” she said. “It helped me understand how to fill out the ballot.”
Alongside the faux ballots were real voter registration forms so the seniors could pre-register or register to vote, depending on their age. Around half of Schneider’s...