Flint Township View

Mock election planned for C-A students





FLINT TWP. — Future voters of America will get a realistic look at the election process in a Mock Election coming up Feb. 6 at Carman-Ainsworth High School.

“It will run just like a regular election,” said Clerk Kathy Funk, who is spearheading the effort.

Freshmen, sophomores and juniors will vote on a yet-to-be-announced ballot issue while seniors will be trained to serve as election inspectors, Funk said.

Actual election equipment will be used.

“It’s going to be as close to a real election as we can make it,” Funk said.

The County Clerk election division is fully behind the event. In fact, Doreen Fulcher, Genesee County’s Elections Director, has been a huge help in planning the event and even suggested some “things we hadn’t thought of, to mirror a “real” election,” Funk said.

About 1,000 students are expected to cast their votes.

The idea first came up last March when Funk was attending a Clerk’s Institute. a skill-training program sponsored by the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks in conjunction with Central Michigan University, held in Mt. Pleasant in March each year.

One of the clerks attending talked about holding a student mock election to choose the court for a special dance.

Funk discussed the idea with her staff. Then late last fall, township Elections Specialist Angie Thygesen attended a meeting at the high school where she brought forth the idea of holding a mock election in conjunction with the school’s elective fair., Funk said.

From there, the idea took wings.

“This really is a team effort between the school, Genesee County Clerk’s Office, and Flint Township’s Election Division,” Funk said.

When finalized, more details will be published closer to the event date.


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