The two Republicans won the student vote by double-digit margins in the election held over three days. High school students in Salt Lake City, however, ran counter to that trend. They elected Sen. John Kerry president and Scott Matheson governor by narrow margins in the faux election.

About 75,000 students registered statewide to vote, though only about one-third of them followed through.

"It is encouraging to see so many young people actively participating in the election process," said Lt. Gov. Gayle F. McKeachnie. "I am optimistic that the students involved in programs like Utah's Mock Election will develop into informed and engaged citizens."

Statewide, Bush led with 74 percent to Kerry's 19 percent. Ralph Nader led the minor party candidates with 3 percent of the votes. Huntsman beat Matheson by 57 percent to 35 percent.

Utah's Mock Election is part of the National Student/Parent Mock Election, a nonpartisan, civic-education project that is funded by Congress through the U.S. Department of Education. Organizers are quick to point out that it is not a scientific sampling, and cannot be used as an accurate prediction of real election results.

Politicos, however, say the student voters are often influenced by the dinner-table discussions they have with their parents.

If that is true, a healthy Democratic pocket is alive and well in Salt Lake City, where Kerry beat Bush by 54 percent to 35 percent, according to YouthCity, a Salt Lake City-sponsored civic group that collected the results. Matheson garnered 66 percent of the Salt Lake City high-school vote to Huntsman's 33 percent.

Students from East, West, Highland and Judge Memorial high schools participated.

As part of the election, students also voted on such issues as the U.S. economy, education, health care and homeland security.

Students overall said health care was their primary concern. Salt Lake City students selected the "Iraq War" as their top concern.

Utah's mock election

* Who voted? About 25,000 students.

* Who's the sponsor? The voting is part of the National Student/Parent Mock Election that is funded by Congress through the U.S. Department of Education.

* Against the trend? Salt Lake City high schoolers voted Sen. John Kerry president and Scott Matheson governor.