Beaty ‘voters’ get a taste of the election process
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Beaty-Warren Middle School mock election poll workers check the real-time results during a lull in the voting.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Attie Corey signs in to vote in Beaty-Warren Middle School’s mock election on Tuesday with the help of ‘poll worker’ Aydin Anthony.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Beaty-Warren Middle School mock election poll workers check the real-time results during a lull in the voting.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Attie Corey signs in to vote in Beaty-Warren Middle School’s mock election on Tuesday with the help of ‘poll worker’ Aydin Anthony.
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It wouldn't have been right to study ancient Egypt on Election Day.
At Beaty-Warren Middle School, students spent their social studies classes voting in a mock election.
Students in math teacher Ashley Elms' classes were the workers. Students who had to work came back and voted when they were in social studies teacher Joe Errett's class.
Groups of students were brought to the auditorium. They signed in at the appropriate 'precinct' determined by their grade.
Then, they proceeded onto the stage. When there was an open machine, the next student in line stepped up.
There weren't many options on the ballot -- the presidential race and a list of issues that the students were to prioritize.
There was also a demographic question asking each voter where he or she lived.
COVID-19 guidelines were part of the exercise from start to finish. Students were encouraged to maintained social distance as they waited to check in and for open machines. Hand sanitizer was available at the table where students signed in and at the 'exit' from the voting machines. Student workers cleaned each machine after every use.
Unlike the real voting, the votes cast at Beaty's election were immediately tallied and added to the running total.
Students could see the mock election results building in real-time on a SmartBoard in front of the stage.
About half-way through the school day, the Trump/Pence ticket was trouncing the Biden/Harris ticket -- 244-to-104.
The results were one-sided, but Errett took steps to make sure the event was not. "We had to do this in a way that wasn't partisan," he said.
Having an election on Election Day was just the right thing to do.
"I would be doing these kids a disservice if we were in ancient Egypt today," Errett said.
He had run a mock election previously and figured it was time to do it again.
"This is a great teaching tool," Errett said. "The kids are doing the work."
The student poll workers took their responsibilities seriously. They "responded with professionalism and maturity," he said.
Elms will be using data collected from the event in math classes, making the event a multi-disciplinary unit.
There was even patriotic music, provided by the chorus, playing during the voting.
Part of the goal was to ensure that students had a feel for the voting process.
Their lines were shorter and moved much more quickly than some at real polling places on Tuesday, but the students did have to wait. Each voting machine was a touchscreen, like those in use throughout Warren County. "There's some intimidation with the touchscreens," Errett said. "These kids? There's nothing to it."
Every Beaty student, even those who don't actually go to the school, had the opportunity to vote. Some students got a sort of absentee ballot experience. Students who are at home live streaming their classes voted by email.
He said he hoped some students would be moved to start paying attention to national news and politics.
Mya Grigsby said she plans to be a life-long voter. "My opinion counts," she said.
Dominick McKee enjoyed the mock election, but wasn't yet ready to sign up for a lifetime of voting -- "maybe," he said.
"The student' body's talking about this today," Errett said. "The kids are excited about it. I'm so proud of our kids."