How to Hold a Mock Election

NationalMockElection.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization devoted to voter education. They encourage everyone to participate in the National Student/Parent Mock Election held in October before the presidential election. You can obtain curriculum materials from this site at no charge. According to Gray Davis, former governor of California, "This event is a unique opportunity to provide information and educate students and their parents about the duties of citizenship and the voting process." Here is how you can get involved and hold your own mock election.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Hold weekly meetings to discuss issues. This allows real-life participation in mock election activities. Invite parents, students and teachers to the weekly meetings.
2. Research political issues and candidates. This can be accomplished via the Internet, the library, local party offices or public relations advisers of local candidates.
3. Create a glossary of terms or a handbook for students or parents to use when they are confused about political terms and meanings. The handbook might contain information and contact numbers for students or parents to get more information later.
4. Organize a mock press conference by selecting a group of students who will take responsibility for organizing the various aspects of the mock press conference. Each participant can role-play a person in the mock press conference. Try to involve as many students and adults as possible. Don't forget to invite an audience to this press conference!
5. Invite people from the local media. They should not only cover the event, but could possibly sponsor your event or even serve as your partner.
6. Gather newspapers to teach about the election. This enables students to achieve a deeper understanding of candidates, issues and the election process.
7. Organize a speech writing competition. Have students pick a candidate to write a speech for based on the issues and that candidate's platform on those issues.
8. Prepare a polling place, set a date and time. Decide if you want your mock voters to register first or if you are going to allow them to vote without pre-registering.
9. Create a ballot with all the issues and candidates. You can model this ballot from sample ballots used in previous elections.
10. Recruit volunteers to be poll workers. Poll workers need to be able to assist the voters with questions but they cannot sway the voter in how to cast the ballot. Allow parents or students to cast their ballot at the polling place or "mail" in their ballots.
11. Build ballot boxes from cardboard to mock confidentiality. There should be pens or pencils available for marking the ballots.
12. Open your polls so parents and students can vote, then count your votes and post the results for all to see!

Tips & Warnings

• Plan the mock election ahead of time. This is an activity that cannot be planned in one day. It takes time and commitment from all who are involved.
• Do not use mock elections to persuade your voters to vote one way or another. The purpose is to teach and encourage students and parents to get involved in the election process and ultimately become better citizens.