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High Schools Hold Straw Poll To Get Students Involved

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By RONNIE BLAIR, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 20, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - High school students who aren't old enough to vote are still getting a chance to let their presidential preferences be known.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors at 11 public high schools in Pasco County were given the opportunity Friday to participate in a straw poll sponsored by the Pasco Supervisor of Elections Office.

Using paper ballots, students voted in their classrooms and the results were tallied by their teachers.

About 19,000 students were eligible to participate, though it wasn't mandatory.

The results will be posted on the elections office Web site after polls close for the primary Jan. 29. The Web site is www.pascovotes.com.

"It's a real life civics lesson," said Brian Corley, the supervisor of elections.

Corley said the straw poll's goal was to encourage teenagers to become involved in the democratic process when they are old enough to vote.

"It's a way to motivate our future voters," he said.

Corley noted some of the students will turn 18 by November, giving them the opportunity to vote for president in the general election.

The straw poll was the result of a partnership among Corley's office, the Pasco County School District and Kids Voting Tampa Bay, a nonprofit organization that works to prepare young people to be engaged, educated voters.

Paula Lesko, a K-12 social studies teacher on assignment for the school district, helped coordinate the project.
Lesko said "it's tremendously important" for students to learn about and understand the electoral process.

During the buildup to Friday, students learned about the candidates and the issues. Lesko said she suggested teachers have the students go to a Web site that asks voters their opinions on issues, and lets them know which three candidates are most in line with their views.

That not only tells students which candidate represents their viewpoints, Lesko said, but also serves as a lesson in how voters sometimes make decisions based on how a candidate looks or comes across, rather than the issues.

Many students also used the Internet on their own to research the candidates, she said.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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