Mock elections are a time-honored tradition for many schools, bringing excitement and energy for students as they act out the civic duty while adults head to the real polls.
But the nostalgic exercise can be much more than a fun activity. Features in some schools’ mock elections—like early voting, mail-in ballots, and field trips to see how real ballots are tabulated—help students to see how the process really works. Those experiences could ultimately help shore up democratic participation.
“We know that young people who vote early form a habit of voting,” MoonSub Vendetta, who helps organize a statewide student mock election for the Washington Secretary of State’s office, told Education Week in a recent story. “We want to reflect the process so that when they reach the age where they can vote, they know how it works.”
Check out this downloadable resource with helpful tips for maximizing the impact of the mock election experience.
Read related stories about civics education
- Should Students Vote for School Boards? The Case for Lower Voting Ages in Local Elections
- How to Host a Voter Drive in Your Classroom (and Why You Should)
- Teaching Presidential Elections Isn’t Easy. How One Teacher Manages
- Help Students Register to Vote, Education Department Urges Schools
- I Am a High School Junior. I’m Not Prepared to Vote
- Iowa Caucuses Offer Students a Laboratory for Civics Education
