DB12:105
November 1, 2012
Contact: Shannan Velayas
(916) 653-6575
Record Number of Schools
Participate in California Mock Election
SACRAMENTO - According to statewide student mock election results, if California's youth could make the decisions, President Obama would serve another four-year term, Dianne Feinstein would continue to represent the state in the U.S. Senate and nine of the 11 November ballot propositions would become law. Students from a record-breaking 674 elementary, middle school and high schools voted this week in the MyVote California Student Mock Election.
Spearheaded by California Secretary of State Debra Bowen and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, the MyVote California Student Mock Election is a hands-on civic engagement project that helps cultivate the voters of tomorrow. The mock election program provided teachers with resources and materials to broaden their civics lessons and make the November 6 election a teachable moment.
"Even though most of the students are not old enough to cast a real ballot this year, they gained real insights and deeper understanding of our democracy by taking part in the mock election," said Secretary Bowen, California’s chief elections officer. "The students researched the issues and candidates, debated with each other, and then voted on ballots just like many of their older family members will do next Tuesday."
The number of schools who participated in this year’s MyVote California Student Mock Election surpassed numbers from the five previous mock elections. In the 2008 presidential election season, 644 schools participated. In the 2010 gubernatorial election season, 433 schools participated. A list of participating schools and more information about the mock election program are at www.sos.ca.gov/elections/studentmockelection.htm.
Attached are the 2012 statewide results as reported by 674 schools.
| President | Votes | Percentage of Total Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Hoefling (American Independent) | 2,942 | 1.15% |
| Barack Obama (Democratic) | 177,336 | 69.29% |
| Jill Stein (Green) | 3,808 | 1.49% |
| Gary Johnson (Libertarian) | 4,750 | 1.86% |
| Roseanne Barr (Peace and Freedom) | 6,995 | 2.73% |
| Mitt Romney (Republican) | 60,096 | 23.48% |
| U.S. Senator | Votes | Percentage of Total Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Dianne Feinstein (Democratic) | 137,928 | 65.60% |
| Elizabeth Emken (Republican) | 72,338 | 34.40% |
| U.S. Senator | Yes | Percentage | No | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 30 Education Funding |
137,298 | 65.26% | 73,077 | 34.74% |
| Proposition 31 State Budget |
106,928 | 55.82% | 84,624 | 44.18% |
| Proposition 32 Political Contributions |
78,381 | 40.23% | 116,430 | 59.77% |
| Proposition 33 Auto Insurance |
113,311 | 58.44% | 80,579 | 41.56% |
| Proposition 34 Death Penalty |
102,606 | 49.84% | 103,262 | 50.16% |
| Proposition 35 Human Trafficking |
140,199 | 70.99% | 57,298 | 29.01% |
| Proposition 36 Three Strikes Law |
125,591 | 63.07% | 73,544 | 36.93% |
| Proposition 37 Genetically Engineered Foods |
126,708 | 63.56% | 72,649 | 36.44% |
| Proposition 38 Education and Early Childhood Programs |
109,196 | 55.85% | 86,311 | 44.15% |
| Proposition 39 Taxes for Multistate Businesses |
120,051 | 64.27% | 66,755 | 35.73% |
| Proposition 40 State Senate Redistricting Referendum |
93,060 | 50.16% | 92,483 | 49.84% |
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