High school students at Rudyard Area Schools took to the polls Wednesday to cast their votes for President and several other positions.
The school held a mock election that was open to just under 200 students.
Leading up to Wednesday, students learned about the candidates and issues as part of their history class.
"It's incredibly important. A lot of kids in this area have strong political opinions, but what I have so far today, they all don't turn out to vote. But by the end of the day, I am sure I will have complaints from the students who didn't make it out to vote, and I will say 'did you make the time to vote?' You need to make the time to vote for what you believe in," said history teacher, Andrew Curtis.
Curtis was correct about voter turnout. Only 28 per cent of the Rudyard student body cast their votes Wednesday.
While the majority of the students are not old enough to vote legally, there were a few 18-year-olds who will be voting come Nov. 5.
Madisyn Besteman is one 18-year-old who voted in the mock election and will be officially voting on Tuesday.
She is also a member of the student council so she already has a foot in the political arena.
"I kinda helped set up the mock election because I am on student council so it's very interesting to see behind the scenes and see how that works. And I think it is very important to vote in the real election and I am excited because everybody has a voice and it's important to you that voice if you can. You have an impact with your vote," Besteman said.
Besteman collected as much information as possible about the candidates and issues before making her final decision.
"It was very useful for the mock election as well as for the real election coming up. It's good to have because of other people in your face. I have heard opinions from my family and friends and things on social media so it makes it hard to set my sights on what I want to vote for, but I think I have my mind set," Besteman explained.
And the students have spoken.
President:
Donald J. Trump (R) 37
Kamala Harris (D) 11
U.S. Senate
Mike Rogers (R) 36
Elisa Slotkin (D) 16
U.S. House
Jack Bergmann (R) 40
Callie Barr (D) 10
MI House District 108
David Prestin (R) 40
Christiana Reynolds (D) 11
