Classroom Mock Eletion: Teaching Students the Voting Process with Clear Roles and Procedures

With the 2024 election approaching, your students likely hear about it in the news or discuss their favorite candidates. If your class plans a mock election, it's a perfect opportunity to teach them about voting procedures with clear roles and rules.  

Five Classroom Mock Election Roles and Rules

1. One ballot per student 

No extra or duplicate votes allowed. 

 

2. Respect voter privacy 

Set up a private voting area like a study carrel. Students shouldn't ask others how they voted. Sharing votes is voluntary, but it's poor etiquette to inquire.

 

3. Voter Check-in  

Assign a Poll Clerk to check off student names, simulating identification verification and registration from real elections.

 

4. Accurate and Timely Counting 

Designate a Ballot Counter to tally votes, with a Vote Checker verifying or recounting the totals for accuracy. This should be done promptly, shortly after everyone has voted.

 

5. Reporting Results 

The Election Official (teacher) will receive the final tally and announce the winner. 

 

More Voting Process Activities

In addition to the five roles and rules established for your classroom mock election, consider setting aside time for students to "register" to vote. You can make this engaging by having students obtain an "identification card". Take headshots of each student and print them on cards for an authentic voting experience!

To further immerse your students in the election process, assign two students to take on the role of electioneers-one for each fictitious candidate. This approach ensures that no student feels pressured to support real-life candidates, creating a comfortable environment for everyone. The electioneers can promote their fictitious candidates while adhering to established distance rules, simulating actual electioneering practices. An essential part of their role is to create and distribute flyers, sharing fun and creative reasons to support their characters.  

By incorporating these elements, you'll create a comprehensive and engaging mock election that teaches valuable lessons about democracy, civic responsibility, and participation in the electoral process. Plan by assigning the following roles to ensure your mock election runs smoothly: poll clerk, ballot counter, vote checker, voter registrar, two electioneers (one per candidate), and voters. This will create an organized and effective mock election process.   

 

Electoral Vote Card Game

If you want to take your election activities further, try my electoral vote card game! It reinforces concepts like state electoral votes, geography, and math in a fun, hands-on way. With games like "RACE TO 270!", students get a practical understanding of how electoral votes determine the next president.

 

The card set includes 52 cards (50 states, the District of Columbia, and a wild card) with visuals of the states and the corresponding electoral votes for 2024 and 2028.

 

Plus, a student recording sheet is included to track totals. 

 

This game is ideal whether you want a luck-based competition or an engaging civics lesson. Play in pairs or divide the class into two teams using virtual dice on your whiteboard.

 

Tap the image below to find it:

 

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