Meadows students have their say in mock primary

If teens could vote, Barack Obama would be a shoo-in for president.

At least that's the case at Rolling Meadows High School, where students took part in a mock primary election that allowed them to test the political process by listening to "candidates" debate before casting ballots.

The results? Barack Obama received a whopping 82 percent of Democratic votes, with Hillary Clinton getting 16 percent. On the GOP ballot, Ron Paul won 43 percent and McCain 37 percent.

Statewide in the actual Feb. 5 primary, Obama got 64 percent, Clinton 32 percent, McCain 47 percent and Paul 5 percent.

"We thought this was a historically significant election," said Kevin Pietrick, a senior and the mastermind of the project. "I've heard a whole lot of kids talk about the candidates, not just about the debate we had, but also the issues and the people."

Kevin and members of Political Union, a group he founded last year, organized the debate with students posing as the real candidates. The students researched each candidate's position and answered questions accordingly.

Hundreds attended the Jan. 29 event in the school's theater. Then on Jan. 31 and Feb. 5, all students had the option to vote during their social studies classes in booths set up in the hall. The paper ballots were copies of the real ballots used by adult voters.

Youth issues were key topics in the debate, Kevin said, especially the Iraq war. "A lot of kids have gotten involved in protests and things," he said. Other hot issues for teens were gay marriage, government openness and abortion rights.

A majority of students -- 75 percent -- picked up Democratic ballots. That compares with 76 percent in the actual Cook County election.

"I wasn't surprised that Obama won by a big margin, but I was surprised that he crushed every other candidate," Kevin said, adding the Obama won more votes than every other candidate combined.

Political Union's aim, Kevin says, is to give students a chance to discuss issues after school. The group has invited guest speakers including a judicial candidate and a city attorney. It meets Mondays under the direction of teacher Patrick Thorburn.

Thorburn says mock general elections have been held in the past, but never a primary. "I've noticed there's a lot more interest in politics among students," he said. "Obama is energizing the youth."

Kevin, 17, is a member of the debate team and plans to study -- no surprise -- political science in college.

Perhaps we'll see him working in real elections in the future. But motivating fellow students is enough for now.

"I think the election did some good. It really got them to think about it."