If students at Plymouth South could vote in the Election of 2024, President Trump would win and MCAS would no longer be required to graduate.
This after more than 630 students participated in Monday’s Mock Election during K-block. The Mock Election was sponsored by The Prowl and The Social Studies Department.
More than 60% of all students voted, although the exact percent is still unclear.
Trump defeated Harris by about 12% in the Mock Election, with Trump garnering 53% of the vote and Harris receiving 41%. In the MCAS Question, nearly 80% of students and staff voted to end the graduation requirement.
Mr. Fust, Social Studies Department Head said he feels Mock Elections are important.
“We try to shape informed citizens at the high school level who know how the process works,” Fust said.
“Our job is to help understand how the process works and help the students choose for themselves who they want to vote for,” Fust added.
Prowl Advisor Mr. Walker was pleased at the participation and engagement rate of the Mock Election.
“It is great to see so many students and teachers participate,” Mr. Walker said. “Learning about candidates and ballot questions help students recognize issues in their community, so it is very encouraging to see students be part of the process,” he added.
Below are the results from every question on the Mock Election:
PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.
If PSHS students had their way then President Trump would be President. Trump received 53.2% of the vote, while Harris received 41.1 % of the vote.
Some students and staff chose one of the several non-major-party candidates.
About 6% of students chose third party candidates from the Independent Party, Socialist Party, Green Rainbow Party, or Libertarian Party.
U.S. SENATOR
Elizabeth Warren would lose her seat as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts according to our Mock Election. Republican Challenger John Deaton narrowly defeated Warren 53% to 47%.
SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT (MA)
A name known to many students here, Republican Matt Muratore defeated challenger Dylan Fernandes in the Mock Election, 63% to 37%. Of the four non-ballot question candidate races on our Mock Election, this was the biggest margin of victory.
REPRESENTATIVE IN MASS DISTRICT 1
In a very tight race, Republican Jesse Brown defeated Plymouth School Committee Chair Michelle Badger. Note: Because of a spelling issue early in the survey (which was fixed) Badger appeared twice on our graph below. She received 46% + 2.1%, so she actually received 48.1%, just under what Brown (51.9%) received.
MASS QUESTION 1
The closest question on the PSHS Mock Election involved Mass Ballot Question 1. Only four votes separated the No vote from the Yes vote, with 50.3% (308 votes) of Mock Election voters voting “No” when it comes to whether an auditor should oversee the state legislature, with 49.7% (304 votes) of students and staff saying “Yes.”
MASS QUESTION 2 ELIMINATING MCAS AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
MCAS should not be required to graduate high school, according to the Mock Election results. Nearly 80% of the students and staff polled are in favor of Ballot Question 2, which would eliminate the MCAS as a graduation requirement. Students would still take MCAS tests so schools could be compared and standards could be addressed.
MAS QUESTION 3
When it comes to unionizing rideshare drivers, PSHS students and staff also said a big “Yes,” with 61.2% of voters choosing to allow this.
MASS QUESTION 4
In a close vote, students and staff voted NO to allow certain psychedelic drugs to be used and legalized, 56% (no) to 44% (yes)
MASS QUESTION 5
In what has become a contentious issue in the state, 61% of PSHS Mock Election voters voted “no” to the ballot question that would raise restaurant workers and service industry workers’ minimum wage to $15.00 an hour. The “no” voters are in favor of keeping the tipping system the exact same way it currently is.
The Mock Election was sponsored by The Prowl and the PSHS Social Studies Department, with Mr. Walker, Mr. Fust, and Mr. Schuler helping to organize and create it. It follows a long tradition of mock elections at PSHS.