The verdict is in, and it seems the younger generation has made its choice – Hillary Clinton for president! The Democratic nominee triumphed over Donald Trump, garnering 53% of the votes in Nickelodeon’s 2016 Kids Pick The President “Kids’ Vote.” Clearly, the kiddos know what they want. Fingers crossed for the rest of us!
These mini political pundits have spoken and believe Clinton is the right fit for one of the most crucial jobs in the nation. Trump managed to snag 36%, while Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson received a mere 11%. Between October 28 and November 5, a staggering 905,928 children voted online. Nickelodeon’s mock election aims to “amplify kids’ voices and opinions and raise their awareness of the electoral process.”
Interestingly, kids have accurately predicted the next U.S. president in six out of the last seven elections. They only missed the mark in 2004 when they opted for John Kerry over George W. Bush – a choice many adults regretted too!
While the nation has until Tuesday to cast its ballots, Clinton has been quietly clinching the youth vote across various mock elections. She also won the Scholastic Student Vote, securing 52% of the votes from students. You know Scholastic – the folks behind those beloved book fairs that make reading fun for kids. Their election serves as an educational opportunity for students to express their opinions on the presidential race.
In the Scholastic election, Clinton excelled in nearly all the key battleground states including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and more. Surprisingly, she even performed well in traditionally red states like Alaska and Texas! Scholastic has been conducting these pseudo-elections since 1940, but they noticed a troubling trend this year – fewer kids participated in the voting process.
In 2012, almost a quarter million kids cast their votes, but this year, only 153,000 students made their voices heard. With the current climate filled with racism, xenophobia, and disturbing comments from candidates, many teachers found it difficult to engage their students in discussions about the election. “We’ve had a couple of teachers write us and say they feel so uncomfortable with the tenor of the election that they just don’t feel they can cover it,” shared Linda Carter, editorial director of Scholastic Newsmagazines.
It’s not easy to discuss the vulgarities of this election with kids when we’re teaching them about manners, boundaries, and respect. How do you explain to them that a politician can hurl hateful comments at disabled reporters and grieving parents? Thankfully, this chaotic chapter will close soon. Just remember to vote – and if you’re worried about juggling kids, some YMCA locations will offer free childcare on Election Day!
For more on parenting during tumultuous times, check out our other blog posts, like those on home insemination kits and the best resources for planning a family, such as this excellent guide.
In summary, Hillary Clinton captured the children’s vote in Nickelodeon’s mock election, reinforcing the notion that kids are paying attention to politics. As they look ahead to the future, let’s hope their voices continue to be heard.