From the University of Virginia Center for Politics

"Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell has won the 2009 Youth Leadership Initiative Mock Election, besting Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds by a 51% to 44% margin. In New Jersey, Democrat Jon Corzine defeated Republican Chris Christie, 45% to 33%, with Independent Chris Daggett taking 12% of the student vote in that state. Students in K-12 schools across the country chose between statewide candidates tailored to their state and weighed in on policy questions through online voting that began October 19 and ended Thursday, October 29. Students in Virginia and New Jersey voted only for candidates that will appear on state ballots in the general election. In total, over 313,000 votes were cast in the 2009 Youth Leadership Initiative mock election, the only student voting program offered nationally this year.

“Students should be commended for taking interest in America’s government at such a young age and citizens of all ages should follow their example,” said Meg Heubeck, the Youth Leadership Initiative’s Director of Instruction. “Thanks to the teachers who utilize the mock election, the next generation of voters has already begun a lifelong habit of voting.”

The Youth Leadership Initiative is the signature civic education program of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. Its annual mock election is provided as a free service and is the nation’s largest student-only mock election. The online balloting process allows participating teachers to customize the electronic ballots to match those of their students' home voting locations.

The YLI Mock Election is an academic exercise. It is not a scientific survey and is not designed to predict the outcome of the general election. The views expressed in the results are those of participating students only, and do not constitute any endorsement or prediction of the regular general election by either the Youth Leadership Initiative or the University of Virginia Center for Politics." (Electronic mail, October 30, 2009)