How do you get votes?

They started with a thumping drum line.

Cookies, brownies and lemonade sealed the deal.

Government students at Corona del Mar High School used tried-and-true methods to attract students to their political speeches Thursday.

Two government classes are battling for glory in a two-week mock election cycle, which has included conventions, television commercials and voter registration drives.

The project ends Nov. 3, when students “registered” to vote will take part in the faux election.

Government students were required to create five school-related and two national “planks,” or issues, that comprise their political platform.

“All the things that they create have to be something that can actually happen at school,” teacher Christine Sandoval said.

That means no requests for on-campus Muse concerts, and the student politicians can’t demand that daily school lunches feature only fresh sashimi and Pinkberry.

The winning candidate will get a sit-down meeting with the principal to make their recommendations for changes to be made at the school.

Corona del Mar High already has an Associated Student Body; the mock election does not elect people to that organization.

Students inside each government class have voted on who would represent them in the election, from political parties to candidates.

They then were assigned specific roles in the campaigns, from media to interest groups.

Others managed the election or worked directly on campaigns.

They spoke of how they’ve learned to become a team, and how politics has become much more relevant to them.

“I now know how it feels to be part of an election,” said Emily Naaman, 18.

The students also said they could tell that school spirit improved after a decline in the past couple of years.

Alex Mainthow was her class’ candidate, and spoke at Thursday’s “convention” during morning break.

“When I win president, I’m going to implement a business and finance class at this school,” he told cheering students. “It will be the best course of your life.”

Not all of his Lemon Party’s requests were as austere.

The Lemons also hope to raise money though saving water and electricity to throw a “huge party” at the end of the school year, complete with bounce houses and dancing.

After Alex’s speech, a student sang “Don’t Stop Believing.”

Another student sermonized about Alex’s hoped-for election in Martin Luther King Jr. fashion.

“The angels will be singing; the children will be dancing,” he intoned.

“Hallelujah; hallelujah.”