Social Studies Download

How to Hold a Mock Election in Your Classroom: A Downloadable Guide

By Evie Blad — October 11, 2024 1 min read
A bin of "I Voted Today" stickers rests on a table at a polling place, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Stratham, N.H.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

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.”

See Also

Students at Northside Intermediate prepare for a mock election on Nov. 8, 2016 in Opelika, Ala.
Students at Northside Intermediate School in Opelika, Alaska, prepare for a mock election on Nov. 8, 2016.
Todd Van Emst/Opelika-Auburn News via AP
Social Studies Mock Elections in Schools Evolve to Build Trust in Democracy
Evie Blad, October 9, 2024
9 min read

Check out this downloadable resource with helpful tips for maximizing the impact of the mock election experience.

Download the Tips (PDF)

Read related stories about civics education

Related Tags:

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar
AI and Educational Leadership: Driving Innovation and Equity
Discover how to leverage AI to transform teaching, leadership, and administration. Network with experts and learn practical strategies.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School Climate & Safety Webinar
Investing in Success: Leading a Culture of Safety and Support
Content provided by Boys Town
Assessment K-12 Essentials Forum Making Competency-Based Learning a Reality
Join this free virtual event to hear from educators and experts working to implement competency-based education.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Social Studies 'Can We Trust This Source?' And Other Questions Readers Ask in History
Historical texts require students to weigh authors' bias, context, and audience.
7 min read
Illustration of student reading book with tinted glasses.
Dan Page for Education Week
Social Studies Opinion A Year After Oct. 7, Silence Isn't an Option for Teachers
Teaching about the Israel-Hamas war can feel impossible, but two guardrails offer a path.
Eli Gottlieb
5 min read
A small plant signifying hope grows out of a crack in the pavement, casting  shadow of the large tree it will grow into. Candles burn in remembrance.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + iStock/E+/Getty Images
Social Studies Opinion How to Host a Voter Drive in Your Classroom (and Why You Should)
Get-out-the-vote activities can offer students a powerful lesson in democracy.
Web Hutchins
5 min read
Illustration of teen boy voting.
ilustradani / Digital Vision Vectors
Social Studies The Topics That Dominate U.S. History Classes—And the Ones Teachers Want Help On
The "inquiry" method is popular but not always structured well, a new report finds.
5 min read
Illustration of an interior scene depicting Betsy Ross presenting the American flag. General George Washington is seated on the left with financier Robert Morris, and standing, delegate George Ross (uncle of Betsy's husband.)
Keith Lance/DigitalVision Vectors