Student body election results announced
Junior Bella Hadden will serve as student body president for the 2017-2018 school year
By Claire Boone
Between Thursday, April 27 and Monday, May 1, students learn how to use the new voting booths while participating in the election for student body StuCo positions for the upcoming school year of 2017-2018.
May 2, 2017
Students voted from Thursday, April 27 to Monday, May 1 to elect their new student body president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. The results are as follows:
President: Junior Bella Hadden
Vice President: Junior Preston Cole
Secretary: Sophomore Hannah Barnes
Treasurer: Junior Simon Vongxay
The opposing presidential candidate was junior Justin Grega, the opposing vice presidential candidate was freshman Chloe Griffin, the opposing secretary candidate was junior Julia Feuerborn and the opposing treasurer candidate was junior Alison Booth.
This year’s election process was run differently due to the addition of voting booths, courtesy of the Johnson County Election Office. Students voted during their social studies classes and were asked to either scan their student ID or sign in using a temporary card and signature. Current StuCo members then directed them to the voting booths where students electronically chose their picks.
With the help of junior StuCo member Tyler Orbin on Friday, April 28, sophomore Keme Platt learns how to operate the new voting booths. “I thought voting was very easy, the workers ran everything very smooth and nice,” Platt said.
Hadden, who is the current student body treasurer, said the voting booths were originally proposed for the educational aspect.
“We wanted students to understand the [real life] voting process better,” Hadden said.
However, students enjoyed using the booths for other reasons as well. Junior Alexa Horton said she enjoyed the privacy aspect and the civic encouragement.
“I liked that they were more private, because you can’t really see the other person standing next to you,” Horton said. “I like how it ensures that everyone votes, like all the classes have to come down and do it.”
In the past, StuCo members often had to stay after school to count ballots, but since the voting was electronic, results were available as soon as absentees voted on Monday. Hadden enjoyed the voting booths herself.
“I thought they were really cool,” Hadden said. “It was really intense waiting for the results, but I like how we didn’t have to count ballots and it was a cool experience.”
Horton said the electronic booths were easy to use and made the process quicker.
“It makes kids more apt to vote when it goes faster and is more efficient,” Horton said. “I thought the StuCo members were helpful; they told you what to do and how to do it.”
As for next year, Hadden is looking forward to serving the school and community.
“I just want to be a good leader for everybody in StuCo,” Hadden said. “Anything that somebody wants to get done, we’re going to give it our best shot.”
