Sussex County sponsors election contest

Georgetown, Del., Oct. 4, 2016: The race for president might be a toss-up, but it could pay off for a few politically prescient pupils who pick that and other winners in the 2016 election.

Sussex County once again is sponsoring its Election Year Scholarship Contest for local students. As in elections past, students will be asked to predict which candidates will win office in the 2016 general election, set for Nov. 8. The student with the most correct predictions will win a $200 scholarship, while five runners-up will each win $100 scholarships.

The scholarships will be paid upon each student’s enrollment in college or another post-high school educational program. The County Council first created the contest for the 2000 election. Funding will come through councilmanic grants, as well as from the Moore & Rutt law firm.

“This is a way to engage young people in the political process,” County Administrator Todd F. Lawson said. “They may not be able to vote yet, but certainly this election and every election can and will affect them. This contest gives them a chance be educated about the candidates and the issues and have a little fun in the process.”

Students 18 and younger who live in SussexCounty are eligible to participate. Entrants will be asked to predict the winners of 20 federal, statewide and county races; the student with the most correct guesses will win. To break a tie, entrants will be asked to guess how many votes the winner of this year’s race for president will collect in Sussex County. Winners will be announced once election results are certified.

For complete rules and to enter, log on to sussexcountyde.gov/election-contest.

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