Secretary of State Tom Schedler reports that student voting for the 2012 Presidential Mock Election is progressing well in schools across the state. Public and private schools in Louisiana that choose to participate are sent a model curriculum with age-appropriate lessons on the democratic process, elections and the importance of voting. 

Students began casting their online vote for president on Monday, Oct. 22, and will continue through Wednesday, Oct. 31. The student votes will be compiled by the Secretary of State’s Office and revealed during a Celebration Event on Nov. 1 at Louisiana’s Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.    

“My hope is that the Mock Election will inspire students to be lifelong voters, increasing voter turnout for future generations,” said Secretary Schedler. “I encourage students to get involved in this hands-on learning experience under the guidance of their parents and educators.”

There are 136 schools within the parishes listed below that have students who have cast a total of 21,795 votes as of Oct. 25:

Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Cameron, Concordia, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Lafayette, Lafourche, Lincoln, Livingston, Morehouse, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Webster and West Feliciana.

The event is made possible through a partnership with Cox Communications and the Old State Capitol Foundation.

For more information about the Mock Election or the Secretary of State’s Voter Outreach Division, visit www.GeauxVote.com/mockelection or call 225-342-4479.