Students from 13 schools cast 2,179 ballots in Kids Voting North Alaska; Barnett Magnet wins highest turnout
Summary
Kids Voting North Alaska and the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District reported 2,179 student participants across 13 schools in a simulated October election; Barnett Magnet (88%) earned the highest voter-turnout award, followed by Randy Smith (79%) and West Valley High (60%).
Amy Galloway, president of Kids Voting North Alaska, and student representative Liam Wade presented turnout awards at the school board meeting Dec. 2 after the October simulated election engaged 2,179 students from 13 district schools.
Galloway said the program grew from two participating schools in 2021 to 13 this year and thanked liaisons and educators who organized school elections. She announced the highest-turnout winners: Barnett Magnet School (88 percent turnout), Randy Smith (79 percent), and West Valley High School (60 percent); North Pole Elementary won the K–5 category with 45 percent turnout. Galloway praised liaisons such as Dominique Myrotto (Barnett) and liaison John Boyarski (Randy Smith) for coordinating the activity.
Student representative Liam Wade was also recognized by the presenters for his work with Kids Voting North Alaska; the board and presenters thanked students and staff for participating.
The district will keep promoting civic-education partnerships that use student simulations to increase student knowledge of local elections and civic processes.
