Republican candidates won across the board in Flathead High School’s mock U.S. election.

Students casting online ballots also supported initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana for individuals over the age of 21 and revise firearms laws. Students likewise approved a $500,000 high school district general fund levy in addition to supporting the creation of a new special tax district to generate funding for the Flathead Communications Center.

The mock election was held Oct. 26-30. Participation in the mock election was voluntary and open to freshmen through seniors. A total of 340 votes were cast, which organizer and Flathead social studies teacher Roy Antley said “gives a pretty good sample of the overall student population.” However, voter turnout was down compared to past mock elections Antley said. He said this could be due to changing the voting process from in-person to online because there are fewer students in classrooms, overall, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the exercise in civic responsibility, students, primarily upperclassmen taking government classes, learned about the election process, voting procedures and familiarized themselves with sample ballots in the days leading up to the mock election.

“We try really hard to establish early on the importance of voting,” Antley said, especially among young adults.

GLACIER HIGH School students were invited to register and cast ballots through the Youth Vote Montana Student Election organized this year by the Secretary of State’s Office in partnership with the Office of Public Instruction.

Results for this statewide mock election are broken down by grades K-6 and grades seventh through 12th. Younger students voted on the president and vice president while the upper grades received the full ballot.

Up to 3,777 seventh- through 12-graders from around Montana voted and the winners mirror Flathead High School’s results. Full Youth Vote election results are available at youthvote.sosmt.gov.

Flathead High School’s 2020 mock election results are as follows:

U.S. President and Vice President (339 responses)

Donald J. Trump (Rep, incumbent) and running mate Michael R. Pence, 62.2%

Joseph R. Biden (Dem) and running mate Kamala D. Harris, 32.2%

Jo Jorgensen (Lib) and running mate Jeremy “Spike” Cohen, 5.6%

U.S. Senate (336 responses)

Steve Daines (Rep, incumbent), 57.7%

Steve Bullock (Dem), 42.3%

U.S. Representative (335 responses)

Matt Rosendale (Rep), 66.6%

Kathleen Williams (Dem), 33.4%

Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Montana (336 responses)

Greg Gianforte (Rep) and running mate Kristen Juras, 58.3%

Mike Cooney (Dem) and running mate Casey Schreiner, 30.4%

Lyman Bishop (Lib) and running mate John Nesper, 11.3%

Montana Secretary of State (324 responses)

Christi Jacobsen (Rep), 65.1%

Bryce Bennett (Dem), 34.9%

Attorney General of Montana (327 responses)

Austin Knudsen (Rep), 64.5%

Raph Graybill (Dem), 35.5%

Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (324 responses)

Troy Downing (Rep), 58.3%

Shane A. Morigeau (Dem), 25.6%

Roger Roots (Lib), 16%

Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction (325 responses)

Elsie Arntzen (Rep, incumbent), 57.8%

Melissa Romano (Dem), 29.2%

Kevin Leatherbarrow (Lib), 12.9%

Montana Supreme Court Justice Shall judge Jim Shea of the Supreme Court of the state of Montana be retained in office for another term? (311 responses)

Yes: 71.7%

No: 28.3%

Montana Supreme Court Justice (318 responses)

Mike Black, 59.1%

Laurie McKinnon (incumbent), 40.9%

Clerk of the District Court (314 responses)

Peg L. Allison (Rep), 100%

County Commissioner District 1 (322 responses)

Brad Abell (Rep), 65.8%

Kristen Larson (Dem), 34.2%

Constitutional amendment 46 modifies the state constitution to specify proposed petitions for constitutional amendments from the people must be signed by at least 10 percent of the qualified electors in two-fifths of the legislative districts. It repeals a different standard found to be unconstitutional in 2005. (309 responses)

Yes: 77.7%

No: 22.3%

Constitutional amendment 47 modifies the state constitution to specify proposed petitions for citizen ballot initiatives must be signed by at least five percent of the qualified electors in one third of the legislative districts. It repeals a different standard found to be unconstitutional in 2005. (314 responses)

Yes: 70.4%

No: 29.6%

Constitutional initiative 118 amends the Montana Constitution to allow the legislature or the people by initiative to establish the legal age for purchasing, consuming, or possessing marijuana. (322 responses)

Yes: 62.4%

No: 37.6%

Legislative referendum 130 generally restricts a county, city, town, consolidated local government, or other local government unit's authority to regulate the carrying of firearms. It removes a local government unit's power to regulate the carrying of permitted concealed weapons or to restrict the carrying of unconcealed firearms except in publicly owned and occupied buildings under the local government unit's jurisdiction. It repeals a local government unit's authority to prevent or suppress the possession of firearms by convicted felons, adjudicated mental incompetents, illegal aliens, and minors. Federal and other state firearm restrictions would remain unchanged, including for these individuals. Local firearm ordinances that conflict with LR-130 could not be enforced. (317 responses)

Yes: 57.4%

No: 42.6%

Initiative 190 legalizes the possession and use of limited amounts of marijuana for adults over the age of 21. I-190 requires the Department of Revenue to license and regulate the cultivation, transportation, and sale of marijuana and marijuana-infused products and to inspect premises where marijuana is cultivated and sold. It requires licensed laboratories to test marijuana and marijuana-infused products for potency and contaminants. I-190 establishes a 20% tax on nonmedical marijuana. 10.5% of the tax revenue goes to the state general fund, with the rest dedicated to accounts for conservation programs, substance abuse treatment, veterans' services, healthcare costs, and localities where marijuana is sold. I-190 allows a person currently serving a sentence for an act permitted by I-190 to apply for resentencing or an expungement of the conviction. I-190 prohibits advertising of marijuana and related products.

Marijuana taxes and fees will generate about $48 million annually by 2025. Marijuana fees will fund program administration and enforcement. Marijuana taxes will contribute to the general fund and special revenue accounts for conservation, veterans' services, substance abuse treatment, healthcare, and local governments. The general fund will net $4 million. (319 responses)

Yes: 64.9%

No: 35.1%

Flathead County Emergency Communications Center Special District

To organize a special district to provide funding for emergency dispatch and supporting communication services, equipment, and infrastructure for Flathead County and its municipalities. The maximum of the total initial proposed assessment is $3,503,652. The impact of this assessment in the current year on a home valued at $100,000 would be approximately $17.68 in additional property taxes; on a home valued at $200,000 the additional property taxes would be approximately $35.36. The proposed boundaries of the district are the boundaries of Flathead County. The Flathead County Board of Commissioners will be the administrator of this special district. Shall the proposition to organize the Flathead Emergency Communications Center Special District be adopted? (314 responses)

Yes: 69.4%

No: 30.6%

High school general fund levy proposition

Shall the board of trustees be authorized to impose an increase in local taxes to support the general fund in the amount of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) per year which is approximately 3.53 mills for the purpose of operating and maintaining the high school district programs. Passage of this proposal will increase the property taxes on a home with a market value of $100,000 by approximately $.40 per month/$4.76 per year, and on a home with a market value of $200,000 by approximately $.79 per month/$9.52 per year. The durational limit of the levy is permanent once approved by the voters, assuming the district levies that amount at least once in the next five years. (327 responses)

For: 67.3%

Against: 32.7%