Students learn about politics through participation

Big Island students chose Hillary Clinton for president and voted akin to their adult counterparts in remaining statewide legislative races.

That’s according to results from We Vote Hawaii, a statewide youth voting program aimed at bolstering adult voter participation and encouraging youth — once they are of age — to vote.

More than 102,000 students in grades K-12 cast mock ballots as part of this year’s program, including more than 7,000 votes on Hawaii Island.

“We’re really happy that all of the schools (on the island) committed to participate,” said Claudia Kobayashi, East Hawaii district coordinator for the organization, adding she hopes actual participation — rather than simply commitment to participate — will increase in future years. “… By participating it made them so much more aware of the political process and excited about being included in that process.”

Results show about 57 percent of Big Island students chose Clinton for president while 16 percent — or 1,159 — cast ballots for President-elect Donald Trump.

Remaining ballots were cast for third-party candidates. Statewide, just under 55 percent of youth chose Clinton and 22 percent chose Trump.

Trump received 29.4 percent of the presidential vote among adult voters in Hawaii and 26.9 percent in Hawaii County. Clinton received 61 percent statewide and 62.5 percent among county voters.

Hawaii Island students chose the same state senators and representatives elected by adults.

Students also were asked questions including, “Do you feel safe at school?” and “Should public schools be allowed to start at different times in the morning?” Most students islandwide voted “yes” to both of those questions.

Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.