 Trump first announced his run for presidency in June of 2015. The field began with 17 declared candidates, and he won the Republican primaries after the final two other candidates, Ted Cruz and John Kasich, suspended their campaigns. Clinton was the first woman in American history to be nominated for president by a major political party. Third party candidates for president included Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein. On election day, social studies teacher Craig Frederick took his Government class to the Conway Springs City Building to experience and learn what the voting process looked like up close and to show the seniors what a polling place looked like. Students were able to see a sample ballot and the voting machines. Frederick said it was a hands-on political experience for first-time voters and those who couldn’t vote. “It’s important for young people to vote because that is your voice,” Mr. Frederick said. “That is part of being in a republic. It’s your responsibility to vote.” Though several were of age, only four seniors voted for the first time. On the ballot was the presidential ticket, Kansas Senate and House of Representatives positions, county positions, whether to retain our Kansas Supreme Court judges, as well as other political issues. “I wish I could have voted, but I didn’t have my ID when we went during school, and then I had to work after school until 9:30 p.m.,” senior Hannah Ray said. In Kansas, Trump won all six electoral votes with 656,009 people voting for him. Clinton had 414,788. Even those students who couldn’t vote — seniors and underclassmen alike — had been paying attention this election season. “I was okay with the outcome of the election, but I wasn’t okay with the choices we had,” freshman Wyatt Schulte said. Trump will be inaugurated in as president on Jan. 20, 2017. The inauguration will be held at the U.S. Capitol Building on the west front. Infographic by Amanda Smith |
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