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A record 81 percent voter ballot return rate is expected for Tuesday's General Election. Students have already decided their mock election. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP photo)

Washington students elect Obama, Inslee and defeat pot

November 3, 2012 @ 9:42 am (Updated: 10:39 am - 11/3/12 )

Election results are already in for Washington middle and high school students, and you might be surprised with how they voted on the Initiatives.

The annual Mock Election, which ended early Friday afternoon after starting Monday, had 38,848 students participants. That's more than double the old record of about 18,000, set in 2008.

Barack Obama won with 69 percent of the vote, compared with Mitt Romney at 31 percent.

In the race for Governor, about 57 percent of students picked Democrat Jay Inslee, to 43 percent for Republican Rob McKenna.

Students narrowly favored Initiative 1240, as 51 percent to 49 percent in favor of the charter schools measure.

I-502, the measure to legalize marijuana, was barely rejected by students, with 51 percent saying no while about 49 percent voted for it. Students overwhelmingly approved Referendum 74 to legalize same-sex marriage with 67 percent voting in favor.

Democrats and Republicans are going to extremes to get ballots returned for their candidates by Tuesday.

Democrats plan to make three million election calls in our state. Some with the GOP in King County will even pick up your ballot.

The King County Elections website recommends voters mail their own ballots through the US Postal system or drop them off at in an official elections drop box.

Some GOP volunteers have been going door-to-door campaigning for their candidates. If the voter has a completed ballot, they've offered to mail the ballot.

King County elections officials say there's nothing illegal about having someone mail or turn in a completed, signed ballot. They don't recommend it though. Spend a few cents on a stamp, walk a few steps to the mail box and let the postal service handle it.

The party says about 100 GOP volunteers will be out again over the weekend and on Monday making sure people remember to vote and return their ballots.

Washington State now votes entirely by mail. There are no polling sites.

The Secretary of State's office expects an 81 percent voter turnout rate for the General Election.

By LINDA THOMAS

I'll be anchoring KIRO Radio's election night special coverage from 6 - 10 p.m. with talk show host analysis from Dori Monson, Dave Ross, Luke Burbank, and Michael Medved. KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and online MyNorthwest.com

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (26)


  • Add A Comment

  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Yea kids..!
    November 3, 2012 9:44 am
    Good for them. A few are learning a bit about the process. I really applaud that..Generation "E" (The entitlement generation) has a chance.. For many though, it's akin to a popularity vote rather than real world. Sort of like voting for student body president rather than someone that can send you to war or spend your working income money on your behalf without checking in first. We need the kids to know that they will soon" Be paying property taxes, income taxes, insurance payments (health, auto home if you own one, rent and etc...lots of etc..) much what that to them doesn't make sense or can be justified, cast a vote for a candidate that you thought was "cool" but mostly just a well educated liar looking for a job with great benefits before and after. They'll soon find out that a courtroom isn't just like TV or that health care isn't just for old people to worry about. Good, well paying jobs are not automatic and waiting for YOU when the cap and gown comes off.. In fact, very infrequent. Hello McDonalds. Come learn the ropes...Come to think of it, many many adults think this way as well. Keep at it kids. Make us proud. Please.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jaysonoo7 wrote...
    I was wondering...
    November 3, 2012 9:52 am
    As I talk to young people today I hear them talk about more liberal ideals. More big government more welfare state ect. ect. In some cases I know their families and they do not think that way so I wonder where do they come up with these ideals. Well linda I think you just answered my question I am assuming before the vote they explain both sides of the issue. If there ever was a group of people who blindely followed the liberal party it would be union teachers. I think you know where I am going but I do not think political brain washing belongs in our schools.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • EskieMom wrote...
    This is the future?
    November 3, 2012 9:53 am
    God help us.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • chancho wrote...
    Wow!
    November 3, 2012 3:47 pm
    Scarey indeed....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • chancho wrote...
    Who are these students?
    November 3, 2012 4:01 pm
    We these the "special ed" students? That is the only way this "poll" makes sense.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    to anyone claiming this proves that liberal ideals are being foisted on our kids...
    November 3, 2012 10:45 am
    then HOW did pot fail with them?

    that kills your argument right there.

    as if it wasn't DOA anyway.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    @Oly: I-502 is far too restrictive and especially bad for kids.
    November 3, 2012 2:30 pm
    Has nothing to do with partisanship. Having said that, it is the only decent choice they made. Obama/Inslee is a death sentence for our kids' future. They have no idea what they are voting for.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    Voting for..........
    November 3, 2012 5:10 pm
    The Students are voting FOR: Diversity, LGBT equality, workers and public schools. The Kids are voting AGAINST: Right wing attacks against poor/minority Voting rights, Koch brother front groups like Americans for Prosperity, War profiteering, environmental destruction and corporate media echo chambers like ALEC, AFP, FREEDOM WORKS, etc, -being funded by these Carbon Barrons$$$.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    simple Oly80
    November 3, 2012 2:50 pm
    because decriminalization of a natural plant is a conservative ideal. It is liberals who believe government should regulate what individuals should be allowed to do to themselves. Has the war on drugs slowed since Obama has been in office? No, it has escalated....even to the point that our government has supplied arms to their favored cartel.

    This trend of brainwashing is the future....and will yield an abundant new crop of Obamajugend.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • chancho wrote...
    Agree in part...
    November 3, 2012 3:55 pm
    I would say it is the modern democratic party who want to regulate individuals choices. The Libertarian party is the true progressive party...The term "liberal" can be confusing when compared to the Lib party. With that said I favor decriminalization of marijuana and voted for a 3rd party... Good post Paul.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    Libertarian party
    November 3, 2012 5:14 pm
    is the TRUE party of the richest of the rich. Ask charles and david Koch. Their goal is to END: Social security, end 90% of government, move from a safety net to a DOG-EAT-DOG form of Capitalism that would rival Charles Dickens' stories. Not Wise.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • chancho wrote...
    Dems and Reps
    November 3, 2012 5:22 pm
    And the Dems and Reps are not?? Are you sure about that? Most progressive thinkers would disagree with you. Read up on Judge Andrew Napolitano and his criticisms of the Dem/Rep parties.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @chancho
    November 4, 2012 12:35 am
    I do not support capitalist parties like the democrats or republicans. Certainly they are bought and sold by Corporate interests. But the Libertarian solution of social darwinism -is worse than their alternatives. Conservatives (both GOP and Libertarian) hold capitalism and war profiteering as the means to an economy. Putting profits ahead of human and environmental needs is NOT the progressive way. War, poverty, exploitation, oppression, Racism, homophobia, etc are all products of Capitalism's drive to divide the working class. Glenn beck, Charles and David Koch and other Libertarians want to ELIMINATE the gov't safety net that helps protect the environment, the poor, orphans, vets, the elderly, sick, minorities, etc.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    you mean...
    November 5, 2012 5:59 am
    the war on drugs the conservatives started?

    right.

    way to try to spin that. but, it"s incorrect.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    yet you won't answer the question will you Oly?
    November 5, 2012 7:09 am
    Has Obama done anything to withdraw from the war on drugs, or has he escalated it?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Oly, the small time pot dealers by and large OPPOSE legal pot.
    November 4, 2012 2:31 am
    And these guys, a lot of 'kids' have contact with.

    There go the profits.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Regularjoe44 wrote...
    good job kids...
    November 3, 2012 5:59 pm
    ...keep voting and hurry up the process to revolution and anarchy while I'm still young enough participate. There's only one way this ends. Y'all can tune in Eurozone101 to get a preview. Keep your food stores up and your ammo dry...you'll need it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    I think the kids rejected legalizing pot because...
    November 3, 2012 10:25 pm
    how cool and rebellious would it be to sneak out behind the garage to smoke pot when Ma and Pa are doing it in the living room?

    It's not that they don't want to smoke, it's that they want to feel like they are getting away with something when they do.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    Chuck.....Good point. I think the reason I never smoked cigarettes was because my Dad did.
    November 5, 2012 12:11 am
    When you have to be around it ALL THE TIME, it's not so cool or appealing. My Dad also died because of it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    ron prevost..
    November 4, 2012 4:05 pm
    What do you base your statement on? Facts..where are they? Paul K. :"decriminalization of a natural plant is a conservative ideal" How so? Who are you quoting? Who specifically shares your opinion..??
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lonestar wrote...
    Union brainwashing
    November 5, 2012 7:51 am
    We're back in the USSA.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Keitho wrote...
    PROOF!!
    November 5, 2012 7:53 am
    If your under 30 and dont vote Democrat...you have no heart. If you are over 30 and vote Democrat....you have no brain
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gh1022 wrote...
    We're toast!
    November 5, 2012 8:00 am
    Just goes to show you. Thanks to our education system, kids are even more stupid than adults. Obama and Inslee are prima facie examples of failed liberal policies...and these kids haven't a clue about what awaits them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @gh1022
    November 5, 2012 10:43 am
    Actually the kids GET IT, it's the adults who fail to evolve -that are trapped by corporate media. The LAST thing these kids want is more wars, more tax breaks for the rich and more restrictions on women and LGBT minorities.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @gh1022
    November 5, 2012 10:44 am
    Actually the kids GET IT, it's the adults who fail to evolve -that are trapped by corporate media. The LAST thing these kids want is more wars, more tax breaks for the rich and more restrictions on women and LGBT minorities.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }