Local Students Vote In National Mock Election

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- For weeks students at Jacksonville Heights elementary school have been learning about the electoral process and the two main presidential candidates.

Thursday, it was time for each student to cast their vote in a mock election. Moderators lined each class up near makeshift voting booths, then gave the students their instructions.

"Once you have your green ballot in your hand, then you will go to the booth to vote! When you're done, put your ballot in our ballot box and get your 'I voted' sticker!"

783 students from Kindergarten through 5th Grade cast their ballots. After voting, several students shared their motivations.

"The reason I picked Barack Obama is we need better health care and better schools," said 5th grader, Willie Fields.

"The reason I picked John McCain is he's going on forth with the war and a lot of people are dying!" said 5th grader, Brandon Payne.

Cayentha Pierre voted Obama for lower gas prices.

"And if we have lower gas prices maybe my brother --he has his own car -- maybe he'd be able to take me to the mall and stuff --so I can annoy him like that!"

But in a much bigger picture, the votes from students here at Jacksonville Heights Elementary and several other area schools are going to be tallied as part of a nationwide program.

The National Student Parent Mock Election will coordinate and count millions of votes by young people across the United States.

At this school it was Barack Obama taking 79% of the votes to McCain's 21%. Regardless of who wins next week, these future voters know what makes a good leader.

"I want a respectful President and a fair President," said 5th grader Isaiah Dunning.

The votes for the National Student Parent Mock Election will be tallied and will be available on the organization's web site Thursday night after 10:00 p.m.