The Florida Student Mock聽Election聽has opened its聽statewide voter registration for K-12 students to cast “votes” for the upcoming election.
Through the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship聽 麻豆精品 S� a partnership between the University of Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Lou Frey Institute聽and the University of Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Bob Graham Center 麻豆精品 S� the balloting will be a part of the My Voice National Student Mock Election,聽the聽 largest student-driven civics project in the United States. Students will have the opportunity to cast their votes for candidates in both the federal and state elections, and to talk about the issues they care about this fall and beyond.
The program is a digital initiative of the Pearson Foundation. It builds on the 30-year history of the National Student/Parent Mock Election and My Voice. More than 50 million young voters have participated while learning about the importance of using their own voice to share perspectives on important issues.聽
Florida student voting begins Oct. 22 and ends on National Mock Election day, Nov. 1
The Florida Student Mock Election will take place online. Teachers will be able to add ballot items on national topics, social issues, education, and local issues and are encouraged to register their classes to take part at www.floridastudentmockelection.com.聽
Teachers are encouraged to use the free materials and curriculum developed for the program to create thoughtful lessons leading up to and around the upcoming elections.
More than 60 national civic, educational, and business organizations serve as cooperating organizations and partners. Along with the Pearson Foundation, this year’s partners include: American Association of School Administrators, Barquin International, BrainPOP, Council of the Great City Schools, Don 麻豆精品 S檛 Forget Ed, National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation,聽National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of Secretaries of State,聽National Association of Student Councils, National Council for the Social Studies, National School Boards Association, NIE Institute, Rand McNally,聽SAGE, and USA Today.
麻豆精品 S淎s a co-sponsor of the 26th Amendment that permitted 18-year-olds to vote, I have always believed that the participation of young people is critical to the future of our democracy, 麻豆精品 S� said former Congressman Lou Frey. 麻豆精品 S淭he Florida Student Mock Election builds the habits that will help produce a lifetime of participation. 麻豆精品 S�
Former U. S. Senator and Florida Governor Bob Graham agreed. 麻豆精品 S淧articipation in elections is an essential responsibility of citizenship and a requirement to fulfill democracy 麻豆精品 S檚 promise that the government will be of 麻豆精品 S渨e, the people. 麻豆精品 S� By taking part in mock elections, students learn that choosing leaders is the essence of democracy. 麻豆精品 S�
The National Student Mock Election was co-founded by Edward Stanley and Gloria Kirshner in 1980 as the National Student/Parent Mock Election. Teachers can get more information and register their classes to vote at http://www.floridastudentmockelection.com.
Contact for additional information: Valerie McVey, valerie.mcvey@ucf.edu, 407-823-4018.