Seniors in Coach Sheppard’s government classes participated in the nations largest on-line student mock election sponsored by the Youth Leadership Initiative Program. Y.L.I. is a national civic education program based at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. Students voted this past week for three different positions in conjunction with the upcoming national election on Nov. 4. The seniors voted for U.S. President/Vice President, Texas’ U.S. Senator, and our U.S. House Representative for Live Oak County and surrounding areas in District 15. The students are currently studying the Legislative Branch and Federalism at the time of the election.

A national research study conducted by University of Virginia Center for Politics Director Larry Sabato has found conclusively that new and innovative methods of civic education can succeed where other methods have been inadequate. “Students in classes where teachers used the political participation exercises and the Mock Election reported a higher tendency towards future political participation” said Sabato.

As a result of the election, students elected Barack Obama and Joe Biden as United States President / Vice President over John McCain and Sarah Palin. The Democratic ticket of Obama/ Biden received 62% of the vote over the Republican ticket of McCain / Palin who had 38% of the vote. The seniors also overwhelmingly re-elected Republican John Cornyn to U.S. Senate with 64% of the vote over Democrat Rick Noriega (36%). For the U.S. House of Representatives for District 15, students chose Democrat Ruben Hinojosa over Republican Eddie Zamora by a margin of 67% to 33%.