TN Kids ‘Mock the Vote’

Students at STEM Prep charter school cast ballots blindly, voting on issues instead of personality. Photo credit Blake Farmer/WPLN

While voters flood to the polls in Tennessee, kids are casting fake ballots in mock presidential elections. Nashville’s STEM Prep charter school has spent weeks scrutinizing one issue at a time.

Wednesday it was jobs and the economy. After a 20 minute briefing, a 6th grader named Elvis chooses candidate one, who says he’ll cut taxes for small businesses like his dad’s.

“Because we don’t earn that much money through the month because we have to spread it around with the workers.”

STEM Prep, located in a largely Hispanic neighborhood of South Nashville, doesn’t reveal the identities of the candidates until after the final votes are cast.

School director Kristin McGraner says teachers give students the most unbiased information they can find.

“We teach them that they should examine issues and not make decisions based on the actual person or personalities of the candidate.”

On jobs and the economy, candidate two – President Obama – won handily. But McGraner says Mitt Romney won on other issues like defense.

Three Tennessee schools are taking part in national mock elections this year. Antioch High and the Webb School will vote along with 50,000 other students from across the country.