SPHS students, teachers and staff participated in the California Mock Election supervised by SkillsUSA throughout the school day in the library Tuesday, Oct. 9. The yearly statewide event seeks to inspire political participation in students by exposing them to voting procedures and educating them on different political candidates and issues.
A total of 364 ballots were collected with votes for and against numerous propositions as well as candidates for both the governor and U.S. senator positions that will appear on the official election ballot that will be held in early November.
Students voted on 12 statewide measures, which include propositions concerning the funding of construction at children’s hospitals and housing development for mentally impaired individuals. Proposition 4 was among one of the measures that was overwhelmingly passed in the mock election. This measure, if passed after voting on Nov. 6, will approve grants to aid in the expansion and renovation of qualifying children’s hospitals.
Students were also given the opportunity to vote for Democratic and Republican candidates in several government positions, with a vote between Republican John H. Cox and Democrat Gavin Newsom for governor and Democrats Kevin De Leon and Dianne Feinstein for senator. From the ballots collected at SPHS, Newsom won by a margin of 152 votes while Feinstein claimed a victory with a narrower lead of 17 votes.
SPHS students ages 16-18 are encouraged to pre-register to vote by Oct. 22 for the official California midterm election on November 6. Pre-registered students who are already 18 are eligible to vote in this year’s election, and students ages 16-17 will be automatically registered to vote when they turn 18.
The full mock election results are listed below.
Governor
Gavin Newsom (Democratic): 252
John H. Cox (Republican): 100
US Senator
Dianne Feinstein (Democratic): 184
Kevin De Leon (Democratic): 167
Ballot Measures
Proposition 1 – Authorizes Bonds to Fund Existing Housing Assistance Programs.
Legislative Statute.
Yes: 274 No: 76
Proposition 2 – Authorizes Bonds to Fund Existing Housing Program for Individuals
for Mental Illness. Legislative Statute.
Yes: 309 No: 52
Proposition 3 – Authorizes Bonds to Fund Projects for Water Supply and Quality, Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Fish Wildlife, Water Conveyance, and Groundwater Sustainability and Storage. Initiative Statute.
Yes: 320 No: 33
Proposition 4 – Authorizes Bonds Funding Construction at Hospitals Providing Children’s Health Care. Initiative Statute
Yes: 308 No: 50
Proposition 5 – Changes Requirements for Certain Property Owners to Transfer Their
Property Tax Base to Replacement Property. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Yes: 156 No: 208
Proposition 6 – Eliminates Certain Road Repair and Transportation Funding.
Requires Certain Fuel Taxes and Vehicle Fees Be Approved by the Electorate. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Yes: 129 No: 223
Proposition 7 – Conforms California Daylight Saving Time to Federal Law. Allows
Legislature to Change Daylight Saving Time Period. Legislative Statute.
Yes: 156 No: 168
Proposition 8 – Regulates Amounts Outpatient Kidney Dialysis Clinics Charge for
Dialysis Treatment. Initiative Statute.
Yes: 199 No: 140
Proposition 9 – On July 18, 2018, Proposition 9 was removed from the ballot by
order of the California Supreme Court.
Proposition 10 – Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on
Residential Property. Initiative Statute.
Yes: 148 No: 194
Proposition 11 – Requires Private-Sector Emergency Ambulance Employees to
Remain On-Call During Work Breaks. Eliminates Certain Employer Liability. Initiative Statute.
Yes: 196 No: 141
Proposition 12 – Establishes New Standards for Confinement of Specified Farm
Animals; Bans Sale of Noncomplying Products. Initiative Statute.
Yes: 258 No: 90