Throughout the years, Rho Kappa, the social studies honors society, has held its annual mock election to give students the experience of how voting works.
“The mock election is to try and simulate what it is like to vote so that students will be somewhat familiar with the process when they vote for the first time,” said Rho Kappa advisor Scott White.
Students will have the opportunity to vote for various positions in government, and as White implied, they will be getting familiar with a process they will participate in in the future.
“I think the mock election is extremely important. This is a good way to increase voter turnout in coming elections, allowing for the next generation to care as much for these as the generations before us. I believe in political efficacy, in which every vote matters,” said Rho Kappa Secretary and OH junior Connor Omar.
Rho Kappa demonstrates how students run elections. OH senior Andrew Anderson and Rho Kappa President is in charge of the majority of the operation down in the auditorium.
“In running the mock election, it takes more than just one person; it takes a team of smart individuals dedicated to helping ensure these mock election polls are fair and private for every individual in the school,” President Anderson said.
The mock election requires its members to volunteer to be willing to spend hours at the polls ensuring all things are set in place and in operation.
“There are three people at all times handing ballots, cleaning up, setting up, and taking down. We then have the voters place the ballots in the ballot counters to ensure privacy,” Anderson said.
Students can attend the mock election by being called down by their teacher during social studies. They will then head down to the auditorium where they are greeted with the set up on the stage.
“When they get on the stage, they will then head to a voting booth where an electronic ballot will be available to them, and they will vote. Then students will return back to their class,” White explained.
The process of voting in the mock election is straightforward and doesn’t take a while. Any student no matter the grade is welcome to attend the mock election even if they don’t get called down by their teacher.
“If they don’t have a Social Studies class, they are welcome to come in and vote during their lunch/guided study period,” White reassured.
If students are interested in how the voting system works and want an educational hands-on experience, the Rho Kappa Honors Society would be happy to see students down at the mock election.
I am a senior at OHS, I am currently involved in the Panther Credit Union, 42Fifty, and Youth and Government. You can contact me at 30881537@students.sd308.org.
