On November 4th and 5th, University School students participated in the 2024 US News Student Mock Election, casting their votes on paper ballots during both lunch periods in the Upper Commons. With342 ballots cast, the turnout reached an impressive 83%, far surpassing the estimated national voter turnout of 64%.
Participation was evenly distributed across all grades, with freshmen casting 84 votes (25%), sophomores 85 votes (25%), juniors 83 votes (24%), and seniors 87 votes (26%). This near-equal contribution from all grade levels underscores a strong and unified commitment to civic engagement. Although, juniors achieved the highest turnout relative to their class size.
The presidential race in the mock election was extremely close, with Donald Trump narrowly defeating Kamala Harris by just six votes. Trump secured 173 votes, or 51%, while Harris received 167 votes, or 49%. A breakdown by grade revealed slight differences in preferences: freshman and seniors favored Harris, giving her 52% and 53% of their votes respectively, while sophomores and juniors leaned towards Trump, with 52% and 57% of their votes. University School’s results mirrored the national outcome, as Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election. This marks the seventh time in the last eight elections that our mock election results have correctly predicted the national outcome, reinforcing the school’s reputation as a reliable bellwether.
The Senate race was more decisive, with Sherrod Brown receiving 204 votes, or 60%, compared to Bernie Moreno’s 134 votes, or 40%. However, this result differed from the statewide outcome, where Brown lost his reelection bid. On Ohio’s Issue 1, which proposed establishing a Citizens Redistricting Commission, 65% of students voted in favor of the measure. This strong support was another divergence from the statewide outcome, where the initiative ultimately failed. 
When students were asked to identify the issue that most influenced their votes, the economy emerged as the top concern, with 43% citing it as their primary factor. Democracy followed at 24%, while reproductive rights, foreign policy, and immigration were identified by 13%, 11%, and 9% of students respectively. These priorities aligned strongly with candidate preferences. Trump garnered 78% of votes from students who prioritized the economy, a trend that mirrors his national support on the issue. Harris, on the other hand, dominated among students who prioritized democracy, receiving 88% of their votes, and reproductive rights, where she captured 80%. Overall, Trump was favored on the economy, foreign policy, and immigration, while Harris led on democracy and reproductive rights.
The 2024 mock election provided a fascinating glimpse into the political perspectives of University School students. The close presidential mirrors the nation’s deep divisions, while the decisive support for Sherrod Brown and Issue 1 highlighted differences between the student body and statewide trends. With an impressive turnout and thoughtful engagement, University School students demonstrated the importance of civic participation, a value that will undoubtedly shape their future contributions as voters.
