Approximately 100,000 students voted in this year’s mock elections.
They chose Democrats Jerry Brown for Governor and Barbara Boxer to return to the U.S. Senate. Brown and Boxer received approximately twice as many votes as their Republican challengers.
The students also voted to legalize marijuana and, by a narrow margin, to suspend the state’s air pollution control laws.
Secretary of State Debra Bowen said mock elections are a practical way to teach students about the electoral process.
“You know I’ve always thought that the classic kind of civics, the three branches of government and all that is pretty dry stuff,” Bowen said.
But Bowen said discussing real candidates and issues is exciting for students.
“And we know that students who participate in this kind of program are much more likely to go on to be regular voters,” Bowen said.
Bowen said the mock elections reflect Election Day results about the half the time – so they’re reliable predictors of real election results.
