Greene County Middle School students recently got the opportunity to participate in the Iowa Youth Straw Poll.

Social Studies Teacher Tom Braun says 100 seventh and eighth graders participated in the poll, which was run through the Iowa Secretary of State’s office. This year, the students had to answer four questions posed by Secretary of State Paul Pate. The questions were: Should your city/town allow the sale and use of fireworks? What is your favorite school subject between math, reading, science, social studies or other? What is your favorite state university in Iowa between University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa or other? Who is your favorite superhero?

Braun says he encourages younger students to participate in the Iowa Youth Straw Poll to teach them about the process and the power of voting. He adds that even though students aren’t old enough yet to vote in America, it prepares them and energizes them to vote in the future, including in high school where students vote for homecoming king and queen.

Local results were: 42 “yes” votes to allow for sales and use of fireworks in cities and towns, 38 votes for Social Studies as the student’s favorite school subject, 35 votes for ISU as their favorite state university and Batman received the most votes with 18 for favorite superhero. Statewide, the results were: 76-percent “yes” for allowing for sales and use of fireworks in cities and towns, 26-percent chose math as their favorite school subject, 49-percent selected Iowa as their favorite state university and 15-percent chose Batman as their favorite superhero.

The 100 Greene County Middle School students were part of over 50,000 students and 290 schools that took part in the poll.

A full list of the Greene County votes can be found below.

Question 1- Should your city/town allow the sale and use of fireworks?: 42 yes/28 no/19 undecided

Question 2- What is your favorite school subject between math, reading, science, social studies or other? Social Studies 38/Science 19/Math 17/Other 11/Reading 3

Question 3- What is your favorite state university in Iowa between University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa or other? ISU 35/Iowa 22/Other 12/UNI 2

Question 4- Who is your favorite superhero? Batman 18/Captain America 14/Flash 14/Other 13/Superman 11/Iron Man 6/Spiderman 5/Wonder Woman 5/Incredible Hulk 4/X-man 2/Ant-Man 1/Thor 0