BAKERSFIELD, CA- Midterm elections are just one week away, yet 28 Kern County schools are joining 510,000 students across California who are casting their ballots Tuesday during the My Vote California Student Mock Election.Schools are using the election to expose students to the democratic process.
U.S. history teacher Brooke Ault has been getting students at Chipman Junior High School prepared for Tuesday's mock election.
"We like to get them in the habit of voting at an early age because if they don't develop that habit right away then they're likely not to become involved in politics or any sort of real political participation later on in life," said Ault.
The student council at Chipman helped set up voting booths in the cafeteria. All 900 students at Chipman are invited to cast a ballot during lunch, but not required. All month they've discussed with their teachers what will be on the ballot and pros and cons of each selection.
The ballot mimics next Tuesday's ballot. Students will vote for Governor and on all six propositions, including hot topic issues like water use.
Chipman student council president John Pulskamp said he and his classmates should have more say in community decisions.
"The younger generation in our community needs to be heard more because really it's them who you know is going to prolong this country and prolong what's going to happen in the future," said Pulskamp. "So I definitely feel they need to be heard a little more."
Participating schools will tally the results and send them to the capitol.
California Secretary of State Debra Bowen will announce those results by the end of the week.
As a reminder to adult voters, vote by mail ballot requests must arrive by today. To find out your polling place or any additional information, contact the Kern County Elections Office online at http://elections.co.kern.ca.us/elections or call 661-868-3590.
U.S. history teacher Brooke Ault has been getting students at Chipman Junior High School prepared for Tuesday's mock election.
"We like to get them in the habit of voting at an early age because if they don't develop that habit right away then they're likely not to become involved in politics or any sort of real political participation later on in life," said Ault.
The student council at Chipman helped set up voting booths in the cafeteria. All 900 students at Chipman are invited to cast a ballot during lunch, but not required. All month they've discussed with their teachers what will be on the ballot and pros and cons of each selection.
The ballot mimics next Tuesday's ballot. Students will vote for Governor and on all six propositions, including hot topic issues like water use.
Chipman student council president John Pulskamp said he and his classmates should have more say in community decisions.
"The younger generation in our community needs to be heard more because really it's them who you know is going to prolong this country and prolong what's going to happen in the future," said Pulskamp. "So I definitely feel they need to be heard a little more."
Participating schools will tally the results and send them to the capitol.
California Secretary of State Debra Bowen will announce those results by the end of the week.
As a reminder to adult voters, vote by mail ballot requests must arrive by today. To find out your polling place or any additional information, contact the Kern County Elections Office online at http://elections.co.kern.ca.us/elections or call 661-868-3590.