Georgetown, Del., Sept. 9, 2008: It doesn’t take a political pundit to predict winners and losers. Just a student and a computer.

Sussex County this year will once again sponsor its Election Year Scholarship Contest. As in elections past, students will be asked to predict which candidates will win elected office in the upcoming general election, set for Nov. 4. The student with the most correct predictions will win a $300 scholarship, while five runners-up will each win $200 scholarships.

The scholarships will be paid upon a 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 Griffin & Hackett law firm.

“We are once again proud to offer this contest to the youth in our community,” County Administrator David B. Baker said. “It’s a fun way to involve children in the political process.”

Students 18 and younger who live in Sussex County are eligible to participate. Entrants will be asked to predict the winners of 23 national, 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 total votes the winner of this year’s race for Delaware governor will collect in Sussex County. Winners will be announced once election results are certified.

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

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