Wiscasset Middle High School senior Stephanie Jones said she didn’t consider herself a political person before she took social studies teacher Ben Clark’s Elections 2016 class. Now Jones, 17, is looking forward to when she is old enough to vote. And she and other WMHS students interviewed, including others taking Clark’s class, are looking forward to the school’s mock election Nov. 1.

Students described their new or heightened interest in state and national politics as a result of several activities, including visits to Lincoln County offices for the Democratic and Republican parties.

“It has truly opened my eyes to everything that’s going on,” senior Jenna Bickford, 17, said about her learning this election season. “I’m nearly an adult now so I really need to start paying attention.” She said she asked how her mother felt about the state referendum questions and she watched the presidential debates with her family.

Skyler Stickney said she is president of the civil rights team, and was already interested in equality and social justice. The elections class has helped her to better see both sides of political arguments, she said.

Junior Ayanna Main, 16, is not in the elections class but has gotten involved in the activities out of her already strong interest in politics. Her recent experiences have added to it. “I don’t know if I want to be a politician but I want to work in politics,” Main said.

Ahead of the mock election, a video has been in the works featuring interviews asking people why it’s important to vote. And a group of students have volunteered to talk about the state referendum questions during one of the school’s achievement periods this week, social studies teacher Mary Ellen Bell said. Hopefully, the exercise will help inform students about the issues up for vote, Bell said Monday.

Clark said he is proud of students’ work, including when they talked about the recently leaked tape of GOP Presidential nominee Donald Trump reportedly speaking on an “Inside Edition” bus. “It was impossible to ignore,” due to the wide media coverage, but the students handled the conversations appropriately, Clark said.

Some students interviewed said the presidential candidates should set a better example of civil discourse.

As in years past, the student council is running the mock election and the town is loaning out voting booths for it, technology coordinator-student council adviser Deb Pooler said. Town Clerk Linda Perry also provided ballot copies and “I voted” stickers, Pooler said.

“As educators, we see the opportunity this year’s presidential election gives us to teach kids the importance of being civic-minded and aware of what is happening politically around them,” Pooler said. “We hope that students will learn how their involvement can affect political outcomes.”