Timber Ridge Students Research Issues Before Voting in Mock Election

Election fever is reaching some of Johnston's youngest voters.

While the students at Timber Ridge Elementary can't cast ballots in the Nov. 6 election, they are taking part in the 2012 Iowa Student Mock Election.

The program, endorsed by Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz, is a partnership with the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council and National Student/Parent Mock Election.

Timber Ridge students began registering to vote on Monday, while the mock election will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Before the mock election, students are being encouraged to be informed and access materials through NSPME, as well as books in their library.

Josh Morgan, Timber Ridge dean of students, and Jan Maroon, TRE counselor, will oversee the school's election process.

“We have the fifth-graders choose about three key issues to focus on, such as the economy, education, and health care,” Morgan said in a news release. “We send them out to find out how the candidates feel about the issue, and the point is to help them realize that for the best information and facts, they should be looking at the candidate’s website. Every morning, they use the announcements to inform students on both sides of the issue. So this whole time, they are learning how to find the best, most direct source of information to be an informed voter.”

Candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama might even make an appearance in the school's halls.

While teachers and staff are careful not to endorse a candidate, some will be dressed as the candidates to "campaign" for last-minute student votes.

“You’ll see posters all over the hallways – some for the candidates, some about the importance of voting,” Morgan said. “Mock elections are a great way for students to practice the voting process.”

Polls for the mock election close on Nov. 1 and results will be posed on the Iowa Secretary of State's website on Nov. 2.