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

Mock elections are a time-honored tradition at many schools. They bring excitement and energy to the students as they do their civic duty while the adults go to the real elections.

But the nostalgic exercise can be much more than just a fun activity. Features in some schools’ mock elections — such as early voting, absentee voting and field trips to see how real ballots are tabulated — help students understand how the process really works. These experiences could ultimately help strengthen democratic participation.

“We know that young people who vote early develop a habit,” MoonSub Vendetta, who is helping organize a nationwide 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 to maximize the impact of mock voting.

Download the tips (PDF)

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