World’s largest national mock election
accepting enrollees for 2014 midterms
The National Student/Parent Mock Election, founded in 1980, takes place
Oct. 30 and is expected to involve more than 1 million children, teens and
adults nationwide.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Schools and teachers nationwide are encouraged to
enroll now for the National Student/Parent Mock Election (NSPME), which has
helped introduce more than 50 million children, teens and adults to democracy
since 1980.
Coordinators who can help recruit and guide participating schools in their
designated state or region are also needed, according to NSPME organizers.
“The NSPME is fortunate to have the decades-long support of tens of thousands
of volunteers who are devoted, as we are, to ‘passing the torch’ of democracy,”
says Gloria Kirshner, co-founder of the NSPME. “We need even more of these
civic-minded volunteers to help us preserve and expand this great tradition of the
world’s largest national mock election.”
Every two years, 59 educational, civic, business and religious organizations join
with the NSPME to support the mock election. Participation is free to students and
teachers from kindergarten through college and technical schools, all of whom can
enroll through the NSPME website, www.nationalmockelection.org.
All participating classes receive free downloadable teachers’ guides, sample
student materials, and a mechanism to record votes, either online or by other
means.
Teachers decide how to lead their classes in the national mock election beyond
voting. Projects have historically included art displays, debates, contests, plays,
songs, essay writing, visits from public officials, candidate forums, pep rallies and
other forms of school-wide celebrations.
Participants vote on governors, senators, congressional representatives, and
current issues. After the mock election, five national professional organizations join
to provide awards for outstanding projects by state, school, district and more.
Results of the mock election are posted online no more than 24 hours after
ballots are tallied. Sample ballots are available for practice several weeks before
the mock election.
Experts have recognized the NSPME and other voter education projects as
essential to young people’s healthy development. The University of Colorado, for
example, found in its research that the NSPME provided five broad benefits to
students:
www.nationalmockelection.org “Preserving Democracy for Generations to Come” nspme@aol.com
- increased political decision-making ability
- the belief that voting is important
- informed involvement on current issues
- the belief that social studies classes are relevant
- the discussion of political and election topics with parents, and
- a reduction in an overall sense of powerlessness.
The National Association of Secondary School Principals has also noted a
possible connection between participation in the NSPME and increased civic
engagement among young voters.
Pew Charitable Trust raises the possibility that voter education projects like the
NSPME may be one reason why the Millennial Generation is more politically active
than the previous Generation X.
And CIRCLE, a nonprofit group that researches information on civic education,
proclaims mock election projects like the NSPME to be “habit-forming.”
“When young people learn the voting process and vote, they are more likely to
do so when they are older, ‘ CIRCLE says on its website. “So getting young people
to vote early could be key in raising a new generation of voters.”
Schools that have lost social studies or civics classes because of budget or
curriculum cuts may find the NSPME a promising means to help fill the remaining
void of civics education, Kirshner points out.
NSPME’s outreach to national and state education organizations comes just as
the group embarks on several improvements intended to modernize and expand its
ability to inspire young voters. New plans include a modernized balloting system, a
physical presence in Washington, D.C., a new website, increased social media
outreach, and greater numbers participating than ever before.
Also in the works is a collaboration with VoterBuzz LLC, a start-up social
network and voter education website that aims to help the nonprofit become selffunded
in time for the 2016 election season.
Donations to the NSPME of any level or amount, from individuals or corporations
and including in-kind, are welcome. The NSPME also offers an attractive sponsor
package to those who share the group’s mission of promoting voting as the
strongest means to “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
For more information on becoming a coordinator, send an email to the National
Student/Parent Mock Election at nspme@aol.com. To enroll your class or school,
go to www.nationalmockelection.org.
To inquire about media coverage, partnerships or sponsorships, contact
Christine Hawes at 941-780-3046 or chris@voterbuzz.com. Learn
Please note change in email address: rjwisema@k12.wv.us
Robert “Joey” Wiseman Jr.
Assistant Director
Office of Secondary Learning
Instructional Materials
Social Studies
Building 6, Room 603
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Charleston, WV 25305-0330
E-mail: rjwisema@k12.wv.us
Social Studies Resources 