BY KAYLA ROSS AND ARI KASER

To encourage eligible students to vote, the Bruin sent out a mock election form to all Wadsworth High School students, regardless of age or grade level. More than 300 students participated in voting. For many reasons, this election year is unlike any other. Voters are concerned about many different polarizing issues. Several factors are pivotal in each voter’s decision.

Jim Renacci, former congressman and chair of the Medina County Republican Party, shares his opinions about why a voter should select a candidate to support.

“The issues I do believe should determine voters’ support are the policies of both of the candidates, not the personalities,” said Renacci. “What policies are both individuals putting out? What policies, especially for high school age adults, are going to most help our economy grow and individuals live the American Dream?”

Students at Wadsworth High School are also concerned about personal issues, such as abortion. Angelo Pace, freshman, explains why he supports the reelection of President Trump.

“I believe that science has proven that life begins at conception and that abortion should be treated as murder,” said Pace.

On the other side of the political spectrum, Medina County Auditor and chair of the Medina County Democratic Party, Mike Kovack, describes his opinions on which issues should be corrected.

“COVID-19, competency and the economy[will determine voters’ support],” said Kovack. “Unfortunately, Trump has failed in all three. I think the presidential debates did have an impact because it was the first time in a long time that the American people got to see President Trump unvarnished, up close and personal – and they didn’t like what they saw. He had manners we would not accept from our children, he was uninformed and he had no plan or policies for the country.”

Claire Kirven, senior, also supports Joe Biden.

“Environmental issues and womens’ reproductive rights are most important to me,” said Kirven. “Women should have bodily autonomy. The government should not have control in someone’s personal life.”

Overall, Donald Trump won the mock election with 52% of the student vote. Biden lost, receiving only 42.2% of the vote. Jorgensen received a significant amount of votes, accounting for 5.8% of the vote. Donald Trump won the popular vote across every class, however, in the senior class, he only won with 4% more of the vote.

There was a direct correlation between female voters and votes cast for Biden. Sixty percent of the votes cast for Biden were from female voters. There was also a direct correlation between male voters and votes cast for Trump. About seventy percent of the votes cast for Trump were from male voters.

These numbers may be representative of who will win the election in Ohio, which is historically a swing state. Although only 11.3% of the students who participated in the mock election will be eligible to vote, these demographics represent the views of our student body as a whole.