News from the School 4

News from the School

Mock Election, 8th June, 2017 - by April Howard

On the day of the General Election, Thursday 8th June, CCHS held its own mock election, with the results predicting the national outcome of a hung parliament.

Billie Axtell also ran an exit poll to create a projection of the results before the count; her poll projected the actual results with amazing accuracy, with Labour clearly being the largest party (just as the exit polls for the General Election projected the hung parliament and loss of a Conservative majority in what political experts called “the most exciting night in UK politics” for decades). The overall turnout was a phenomenal 98%. We are so encouraged to see that students are already engaged in politics and are keen to use their right to vote - even if that is to spoil their ballot.

From start to finish this mock election was as exciting and promising as the real one; with a 72% youth turnout across the UK, the future of our democracy is looking bright.

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The biggest percentage of CCHS votes went to Labour, who gained 12 seats in total – though this was one shy of the number of seats needed to obtain a majority. There was also a hung parliament following the General Election, though the Conservatives, rather than Labour, had the largest number of seats.

Co-ordinated by sixth form volunteers, students across the school were encouraged to come and cast their vote at lunchtime. Student Voice representatives also volunteered on the registration desks. As soon as the polling booth opened at 12.35 there was a queue stretching out the door. Students were asked to register before receiving their ballot paper. After voting, students received Suffragette-themed stickers, with 8th June being the anniversary of Emily Wilding Davison’s death.