High school students from across the country voted to give President Obama another term in one of the nation’s largest mock elections.
Mr. Obama received 316 electoral votes and Republican challenger Mitt Romney received 208 after more than 54,000 students from more than 130 schools across the county participated in this year’s VOTES Project (Voting Opportunities for Teenagers in Every State). The president received 50.2 percent of the popular vote — 27,107 votes — while Mr. Romney earned 41.2 percent — 22,252 votes.
At least two schools from each state and the District of Columbia participated in the event, with the results announced Sunday. Voter turnout was 67 percent.
Due to Hurricane Sandy, five schools in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania were unable to hold mock elections, meaning 14 electoral votes were not distributed.
High school students across the country campaigned on behalf of the president and Mr. Romney — as well as third-party candidates — holding rallies, debates and other campaign events.
The mock election began in 1988 by teachers at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, and its teenage voters have correctly picked the winner in every presidential election except one: 2004, when incumbent President George W. Bush beat Democratic Sen. John Kerry. Organizers say the results have been so accurate because high school students tend to reflect their parents’ political leanings.
