“There is a Web site, Bill of Rights.com, in which we heard the candidates voices and their stand on the issues,” Orton said. “We had a nice turn-out of parents at the assembly. I am so proud of our students and parents.”

Orton said that when election results were listed on a big poster Friday morning, “kids jumped and laughed when they saw that their candidate won.”

Results from a Friday election at Fort Gibson Middle School and a Thursday election at Pershing Elementary were considerably different. At Fort Gibson, 67 percent of the students supported McCain while 33 percent chose Obama; no vote figures were given. At Pershing, 218 students, or 66.8 percent voted for Obama, 89, or 27.3 percent voted for McCain and 19, or 5.82 percent, voted for independent Ralph Nader.

At Fort Gibson, students voted in the library during the lunch period. FGMS history teacher Linda Arnett said she worked to make the election as accurate as possible. When they registered to vote, they were assigned one of six precincts, two for each grade level.

“That way they learn that not everyone votes at the same place,” she said. Students had to present their registration cards when they voted, she said.

At one table a student had stacks of copied voter registration cards for students who forgot their cards.

Students at Hilldale Middle School will have a mock election this week, history teacher Dorothy Allen said.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at 918-684-2928 or Click Here to Send Email