For Immediate Release: January 28, 2008
Contact: Karen Clifton
Phone: (559) 445-5532

Fresno, CA – Assemblymember Juan Arambula (D-Fresno) and State Superintend Jack O’Connell led students at Washington Union High School today in a vote for the next president of the United States.

More than 270 students voted in a mock presidential election through MyVote California.  MyVote is a statewide civic engagement project that is designed to help young people discover the importance of elections and the power of their vote in a democracy.

"Today we are just one week away from California's presidential primary and only months away from November's general election. But we've got an election of our own today and tomorrow, as over 230,000 students take to the polls as part of MyVote California,” said State Superintendent O’Connell.  “Our goal with MyVote is to promote in our schools and in our communities a greater level of participation by students in civic and government affairs and I'm pleased to see so many high schools and students taking part in this fantastic project."

According to Arambula MyVote elections will take place in schools throughout California today and tomorrow.  Other Valley schools participating in MyVote are Selma, Hoover, Fowler and Sunnyside High Schools.

“This is a wonderful way to excite our young people about voting and hopefully it will have a lasting impression on the importance of voting into their adulthood.  It is interesting to find out what our youth really thinks about the presidential candidates,” said Assemblymember Arambula.

Today’s election results are as followed:

Barack Obama – 48%, 132 votes
Hillary Clinton – 14%, 37 votes

John McCain – 13%, 36 votes
Mitt Romney – 5%, 15 votes