Glacier High School students went to the polls Thursday in a school-wide mock election.

With 1,189 students in attendance that day, 32 percent — or 376 students — cast ballots.

Glacier’s results show a similar pattern to earlier votes by Flathead High School students: Republican candidates swept top spots in every category in both youth elections.

Social studies teacher Beau Wright said the mock election is designed to familiarize students with the voting process. Exercising the right to vote is a choice in the mock election as it is in the actual election.

“The teachers don’t bring classes and require them to vote,” Wright said.

He said voter turnout is a civics lesson in itself.

“If, in a country like ours where you’re not required to vote, what does citizenship mean?” Wright said.

To vote, students were required to bring identification. “You have to be on top of things, you can’t wander in and expect to be able to vote,” Wright said.

Voting is a right seniors Kalen Reed and Ryan Schmauch value. The two students participated in the mock election and both 18-years-old are registered to vote.

Reed already cast an absentee ballot in the actual election.

“It’s a privilege, not something everyone gets to do around the world,” Reed said. “We have the right to vote for our leaders. We should take advantage of it.”

Schmauch will go to the polls to vote Tuesday.

“I feel that it’s going to impact me and the generations coming up,” Schmauch said. “I want who I think is going to be the best president for our future, for my future.”

But they aren’t sure if all people their age have the same view.

“I think it depends if their house is watching the presidential debates and talking about politics, or if they aren’t really, then they don’t get really involved in it until college,” Schmauch said.

Reed said his government class helped keep him informed about the election.

Family was also an important influence in the way the two voted.

“I’ve got a brother going to UM for political science and so basically all he talks about it seems nowadays is politics, so basically that’s how I stay informed, through my family,” Schmauch said.

The economy was their top concern. Reed shared a personal experience about how the poor economy has affected him.

“My dad used to have a business over here, but he had to go over to North Dakota and I know a bunch of people who have had family members go over there. Just getting the economy started again so small businesses can get going again that ought to make a big impact on communities,” Reed said.

Following are results of Glacier’s mock election:

President/

Vice President

Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan (GOP), 64 percent

Barack Obama-Joe Biden (Dem), 32 percent

Gary Johnson-Jim Grey (Lib), 4 percent

U.S. Senator

Dennis Rehberg (GOP), 52 percent

Jon Tester (Dem), 39 percent

Dan Cox (Lib), 9 percent

U.S. Representative

Steve Daines (GOP), 54 percent

Kim Gillan (Dem), 28 percent

David Kaiser (Lib), 18 percent

Governor/Lt. Governor

Rick Hill-Jon Sonju (GOP), 59 percent

Steve Bullock-John Walsh (Dem), 35 percent

Ron Vandevender-Marc Mulcahy, 6 percent

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.