Even before the parties decide on their nominees, Community College of Rhode Island students were given the chance yesterday to select who will be the country’s next president at a political rally and mock election at the college in Warwick.

Bernie Sanders came out on top followed by Donald Trump and Marco Rubio and John Kasich in that order.

State Democratic Party Chair Joseph M. McNamara and Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea teamed up with student and elected leaders to stage the rally in an effort to push all residents of Rhode Island to vote.

“Our best public policy decisions are made when there is a diversity of opinions, perspectives and backgrounds at the policy-making table. In order for those voices to be at that table, we have to get our citizenry to vote. That’s why as Secretary of State, I am committed to engaging and empowering all Rhode Islanders to play an active role in our state’s future,” Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea said in a statement.

Two weeks ago, president of student government at CCRI David Sears was dismayed by the turnout of a voter registration drive run by the Secretary of State. Only six people registered.

Sears thought a mock election would ignite student interest.

The State Democratic Party was also interested so the party and Secretary of State coordinated a speaking program along with another voter registration.

When asked if any Republicans were invited to participate, Sears explained that he made a phone call to Chairman Brandon Bell who was not able to make it. The rally was attended by Representatives Eileen Naughton and McNamara, College Democrats of Rhode Island president Sterl Carpenter, Democratic National Committeewoman Edna O’Neill Mattson and Young Democrats of Rhode Island president Charon Rose.

When speaking of what his goals were for the community college and what he hoped to gain from this rally and mock election, Sears said that he has always said that “we [the students] are the future of the United States and this state, and it is time that its students get more involved in politics.” He hopes that the fun environment within today’s rally and election urge a higher CCRI student body political interest.

Sears said 78 students cast votes in the mock election. Sanders captured 73 percent of the vote followed by Trump at 14.

Sears wasn’t surprised by Sanders’