Students First Vote

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Edition of Jan. 4, 2008

Students Prep for ‘08 Elections

By Rebecca Plevin
Observer Staff Writer

Iowa voters are traditionally the first in the nation to cast a ballot for Republican and Democratic presidential candidates. But this year, Herndon High School teacher Doug Graney's government class beat Hawkeye voters to the polls.

In a mock election held in his first period class Wednesday, Graney asked the government students to choose their favorite Republican and Democratic candidates, their least favorite Republican and Democratic candidates, and their favorite candidate overall.

Before the voting began, Graney set the mood by reading a passage from Richard Ben Cramer's book, "What It Takes: The Road to the White House," that describes how difficult the president's job can be. "Who among these candidates is most prepared for that sort of commitment?" Graney asked the students.

He then gave the students a last-minute rundown of the candidates. Hanging on one classroom wall are the campaign posters of each candidate, and he pointed to the posters as he highlighted the selling points of each presidential hopeful. "In your heart, who do you want?" he asked the class.

Each of the students filled out their secret ballots and placed them in a shoebox decorated with an American flag. Graney then tallied the results on the chalkboard. Students cheered under their breath when Illinois Sen. Barack Obama received another vote and they laughed as New York Sen. Hillary Clinton won in a landslide-for least favorite Democrat.

The results were finally in and today's youth had spoken: the class declared Obama the winning Democratic candidate and Arizona Sen. John McCain the winning Republican candidate. Obama won as the class' favorite candidate overall as well.

The class election was just the first time that many of the students will cast a ballot this winter. Under Virginia election laws, 17-year-old men and women are eligible to vote in the Feb. 12 presidential primary if they will be 18 by the general election on Nov. 4.

Government teachers Graney and Rebecca Small have devoted a significant chunk of class time this fall to the elections. Their classes have watched debate excerpts, held debates in class, viewed political ads, visited candidates' Web sites and read political pieces from magazines and newspapers.

Representatives from the League of Women Voters also visited the government classes this fall and registered the entire senior class, so now the students are armed with information and ready to vote.

Graney said he encourages the students to become interested in and involved in the political process now, so that voting becomes a lifelong habit. "The future is about them, so they should have a say in what course the future takes," he said.

Small said that teaching students about the elections provides them with the "building blocks for being a good citizen." As a government teacher, she said, she feels responsible for instilling in students a sense of the "importance of being involved in the community."

And in an election that features a diverse set of candidates and no obvious front-runner, she said her job has been easy. "I just put the information out there and they got excited," she said.

A number of seniors said they plan on voting in the primary and think it is important that other young people participate in the process. Young people are, "the future of this country" and they "seriously can make a difference," said senior Paolo Montalban.

He said he would vote for Obama because he is young and is "speaking for us." Plus, Montalban added, "He has Oprah."

"I never paid any attention to politics until I took this class," said senior Jamie Brim. She said she has learned that it is important to stay tuned in to the news, debates and polls because, "the more informed we are, the more we can do."

Brim said she would support John Edwards because his positions and viewpoints "make a lot of sense."

Though young people are often tagged as apathetic voters, the Herndon seniors are ready to prove that stereotype wrong. "Us staying involved is really important," said senior Lisa Hepfinger. The races are so close now, so "anything could happen."