No one can deny the historic significance of last Tuesdayís election.

But there are those who may care about the issues or about a particular candidate, but canít officially cast their vote just yet.

While many of the students at Woodlake High School are not old enough to vote, that didnít stop them from participating in a mock election put on by the high school in affiliation with MyVote California.

Woodlake students voted during breaks and at lunch using simulated ballots Oct. 30. Over 492 ballots were cast.

62.9% of the Woodlake High student body voted, of which there was a nearly 50/50 split between males and females.

Of the 492 WUHS students who voted: 29.7% are 9th graders, 29.1% 10th, 22% 11th, and 18.3% 12th graders.

Woodlake students echoed the rest of the nation overwhelmingly voting for Barack Obama with 341 votes.

More than 107 students voted for John McCain. Ralph Nader received five votes, Cynthia McKinney and Bob Barr received four votes and Alan Keyes two votes.

While students didnít vote for local candidates they did vote on the 12 props California was voting on.

Woodlake students passed Prop 1A- High Speed Train Bond 252 votes to 180. And almost mirroring the state vote they passed Prop. 2-Treatment of Farm Animals 290 votes (66.36%) to 147 (33.64%).

Woodlake also overwhelmingly passed Prop. 3- Child Hospitals Bond 378 votes to 62 votes.

Prop. 4-Minorís Pregnancy failed 231 votes to 215 in a close race.

Another close race was Prop. 5- Nonviolent Offenders which passed 219 to 206 votes.

Prop 6-Law Enforcement funding failed 225 to 206 votes.

Woodlake was thinking ìgreenî that day passing Prop. 7- Renewable Energy 323 votes to 93.

Unlike the rest of the state Woodlake High School students did not pass Prop.8- the Same-Sex Marriage ban. Prop. 8 failed 257 to 193 votes.

Students passed Prop. 9-Victimís Rights, Parole 248 to 176 votes.

Woodlake also passed Prop. 10-Energy Bonds 285 votes to 138. Students did not pass Prop. 11-Redistricting in a very close race 208 to 206 votes.

They easily passed Prop. 12-Veteransí Housing Bond 305 votes to 129.

Woodlake High School was one of more than 15 Tulare County High Schools that participated in a mock election.

Woodlake High School students also voted in a mock state primary this last Jan.

MyVote California Mock Student Election statewide results varied. 73.52% of California students voted for Barack Obama, 20.86% voting for John McCain.

California students passed Props. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12. Props. 1A, 4, 6, 8 and 11 failed. 614 of 901 had reported results as of Oct. 31.

Nationally the teen vote supported now President-Elect Obama. This past summer General Growth Properties with the help of Disney Channel star, Selena Gomez held a nationwide campaign, UR Votes Count.

The program provided teens an opportunity to vote on relevant topics such as the economy, the environment, health care, the war in Iraq, Social Security, national security, education and the next President of the United States.

The campaign found that most teens were focused on education and the environment. Two-thirds partly based their vote on a candidateís stance on environmental issues. And over 59% believe the government should be taking stronger action on environmental issues.

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