November 2006 Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE 

Contact:   Ginny Colbert                                                             For Immediate Release

   (802) 828-2148                                                                    November 9, 2006 

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Vermont Students Vote Sanders for Senate and Rainville for House in Statewide Mock Election 

Senate candidates Bernie Sanders and House candidate Martha Rainville were the students' choices in this year’s Vermont Votes for Kids election. Independent Bernie Sanders was the favorite for Senate, receiving approximately 59% of the students’ vote, to 29% for Republican Richard Tarrant.   The other candidates for the U.S. Senate seat received 12% of the vote combined.  In the House race, in contrast to the outcome in Tuesday’s adult election, Republican Martha Rainville was the winner with 47% of the vote.  Peter Welch received 39%.  The rest of the candidates combined received 15%.  In the Governor’s race Douglas beat Parker with 59% of the vote with Parker receiving 30%.  In the Lieutenant Governor’s race Dubie beat Dunne with 56% of the vote while Dunne received 32%. 

Markowitz said, “We have been holding student mock elections since 2000 and we were pleased that so many schools across the state participated this year.”  Markowitz observed, “We have found in the past that the outcome of the mock election generally matches the outcome of the statewide race, and we were surprised this year to see that kids voted differently from their parents in the race for the House.”   

Jill Tarule is a developmental psychologist and a professor and Associate Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs at the University of Vermont.  She said, “The most likely hypothesis is that gender trumped all other issues.  And we certainly know that young women are looking for role models – and that it is important that we provide role models for them.”     

This year over 300 Vermont schools participated in Vermont Votes for Kids activities with 15,000 students casting mock ballots.  A centerpiece of this year’s Vermont Votes for Kids program was the new board game, “On the Road to Congress,” that teaches students what it takes to run for congressional office.   In addition, in partnership with daily newspapers across the state, the Secretary of State’s Office again offered Democracy in Action, a six week Newspaper in Education Series on voting and democracy which was used in classrooms across Vermont.  Through Vermont Votes for Kids, students participated in classroom lessons that included mock elections, monitoring election results, researching candidates and “registering” to vote for the election.  Students then went to their local polling places to vote or cast a ballot in their classroom.

Look for our sixth and final Democracy In Action page in daily newspapers across the state today and Friday.  Detailed results from 30 of the participating schools, as well as voting percentages for the major races, will be included.  Complete results by school will be available on www.VermontVotesForKids.com.

For more information about Vermont Votes for Kids or with questions about this year’s mock election visit www.VermontVotesForKids.com or contact Janel Johnson at 802-828-1296.

View the 2004 Mock Election results on www.VermontVotesForKids.com.

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