That's a fair point of view. However I think school should focus less on punishment and more on learning wherever possible. I'm suggesting that instead of punishment this could be opportunity for all to learn.
The biggest loss of all would be to put it under the rug.
"Johnny it's really KEWL that you rigged the election, but it also made us sad. Please don't ever do it again."
You attract more flies with honey than vinegar. Good luck to the society whom discourages young outside-the-box thinkers and bright minds from pursuing intellectual passions within STEM. This is a huge problem in the US and it's culture around education.
Treat everyone else as an individual and real person. If this were not what amounted to a pointless election and therefore a dumb prank, there could be real consequences. Some jackass screwed around with his high school election, sure, I don't think a severe punishment is in order. Suspension? Detention? Sure, whatever.
You think that individual's individuality is supposed to somehow put him in front of everyone else affected by his actions? Or is it the fact that someone is interested in STEM, that makes them special?
There is sometimes a victim of actions (in this case, other people running, other people voting). You write as if they don't matter or exist.