For Immediate Release
October 31, 2002
Contact: Dan A. Gwadosky
207-626-8400

Mock Election Voters Pick Baldacci, Collins, Allen and Raye

Approximately 300 students from 20 schools convened at locations in Bangor and Augusta at the 2002 Maine Mock Election held on Wednesday evening. Students at both locations received results phoned in from participating schools, tallied votes, listened to candidates and enjoyed pizza, snacks and drinks. Students conducted most of the evening's activities--introducing speakers, making presentations on the issues, and participating in a news conference.

The Maine Mock Election is coordinated by Secretary of State Dan A. Gwadosky. The Maine effort is part of the National Student/Parent Mock Election, a nonpartisan democracy education project which provided students in all 50 states an opportunity to cast ballots for the 2002 General Election.

The results finalized today found the students favoring Congressman John Baldacci for Governor, while the incumbent candidates for U.S. Congress, Senator Susan Collins and Congressman Tom Allen tallied the most votes from the student voters. Kevin Raye was the student's choice over Michael Michaud in the Second Congressional District race. The students also voted on the three referendum questions that their parents will see on Tuesday. The voting results are listed below. Nearly 300 schools cast ballots and 159 schools provided their voting results to the Secretary of State's Office.

The Mock Election evening was sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of State, the Bangor Daily News, Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel, Augusta Civic Center, Whatif Networks, U.S.Cellular, Hannaford Bros. Co., North Center Foodservice, Seltzer & Rydholm, Inc, Hampden Pepsi distributor, Are You Ready to Party? and Rollins Furniture.