THE SIMPLE TRUTH: Young people who learn the mechanics of voting (the how-to) are more likely to vote the first time they are eligible. Mock elections- what a ballot looks like, how you vote on it, what are the offices, what does a polling place look like and what are they going to ask me, is there voting early, WHAT DO I BELIEVE?- demystify voting, and reduce the discomfort that keeps many young people from voting. It's just that simple.
Students Voting is THE Minnesota statewide K-12 mock election program.
We are excited to announce the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State and the YMCA Center for Youth Voice are working together again in 2024 to help students statewide discover the importance of elections and the power of their voice – and their vote – in our democracy .
Students Voting gives teachers at all grade levels the tools and resources to expose their students to a comprehensive voting experience that includes learning about candidates and issues, voter registration, and casting a ballot on or before Election day.
"Thanks for running this program. Last time it was very helpful for my students to see that students from other schools from around the state saw the election and the world differently than they did." -John
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"We have been working with the students voting program for a number of years. AND we're already signed up for next year. It's an interesting program, and I think for my "greater Minnesota" kids, the data we have access to, afterwards that allows them to compare themselves to "The Cities" and other regions of the State have been impactful. It promotes educated voting, and isn't that what we want too?" -Matt
Overview
2024 will be a big election year with the Presidential race, US Senate and House races, and more! Civic participation is a core Minnesota value, and Students Voting is a great opportunity to get good habits started early with soon-to-be voters. That is why this statewide mock election will return in fall of 2024. What do participants get?
How it works
1. register your school to participate
When registering, select a contact person for your school who will help coordinate the mock election. Any group or individual can be responsible for coordinating the mock election, whether it’s student government, a teacher, a student group, or a committee of students, teachers and parents. Whatever you decide, we’ll need one contact person to receive updates and provide our office with vote totals after the election.
2. Decide how your election will work.
Voting can take place in one central location, in individual classrooms, or something entirely different. Each school has unique needs and you have the flexibility to carry out your mock election as you see fit. Students Voting partners with Ballot Ready to supply unbiased candidate information, office descriptions, and a fun, informative dashboard of the results of the mock election. Want more? Publicly available resources like Learning Law and Democracy Foundation’s civics lesson finder, iCivics, and much more are there for you to use if you wish. You might incorporate lessons and activities such as holding a student debate, creating campaign materials, political cartoons, or propaganda. Encourage learning beyond a presentation with discussions about why voting matters, how to evaluate media information about candidates, how to hold civil conversations about challenging topics, and other essential civic skills. WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
3. Receive your materials in October.
Schools that sign up in time will receive materials, including a customized mock election ballot (emailed), and tabletop voting booths, ballot boxes, and “I voted” stickers by mail. Later-registering schools will only receive the electronic version of the customized ballot by email.
4. Vote early or on Election Day.
If it's better for you, early voting (just like Minnesota voters get to do) is an option.
5. Report your results by Tuesday, November 5.
To be included in the official results, we’ll need your vote tallies no later than Election Day at 5 p.m. (Parents/guardians and civic organizations can be wonderful poll workers to help tally the votes.)
6. View statewide results on Wednesday, November 6.
Share the results with your students and have a discussion about what they mean. Explore the demographic differences and similarities school to school and regionally. Connect with other participating schools for combined video-conference discussions or activities. The learning doesn't stop after the polls close.
Common Questions
Is Students Voting only for high school students?
NO! Any school can participate! It is never too early to learn about civics, elections, and the power of your voice! Ask us about how to best approach voting and the election for your school’s grade levels.
Do other states hold mock elections?
Yes, many Secretary of State offices offer statewide mock elections for students. For example:
Can our school vote before Election Day?
Most Students Voting schools will hold their elections on Tuesday, November 5th, but each school is free to offer early voting. In any case, each school submits all of their school’s results at one time. School choice and customization is at the heart of Students Voting. No matter when they hold their election, every school will still have access to all Students Voting materials and resources.
How many races will the ballot have on it?
Students Voting schools receive a customized ballot PDF which looks just like the real ballot, but includes only the races and ballot questions you request.
WHO DO I ASK IF I HAVE QUESTIONS? CLICK HERE!
315 schools signed up for Students Voting 2022, and even more this year!
In 2024 528 SCHOOLS HAVE REGISTERED!
916 Mahtomedi Academy |
Academia Cesar Chavez |
ACGC 5-12 Building |
Ada-Borup-West High School |
Adams Spanish Immersion |
Adrian Elementary |
Adrian Middle/High School |
AFSA High School |
Agamim Classical Academy |
AGAPE High School |
Aitkin High School |
Albert Lea High School |
Alexandria Area High School |
All Saints Academy |
Alliance Education Center |
American Indian Magnet School |
Andover High School |
Ann Bremer Education Center |
Annandale High School |
Anwatin Middle School |
Apollo High School |
Aquila Elementary School |
Arcadia Charter School |
Arrow Co-op 1.0 (Elementary) |
Arrow Homeschool Co-op 2.0 (Secondary) |
Augsburg Fairview Academy |
Aurora Charter School |
Austin High School |
Avail Academy |
Avalon School |
Bancroft Elementary |
Barnum Elementary School |
Battle Creek Middle School |
Bay View Elementary |
Becker High School |
Belle Plaine High School |
Bemidji High School |
Bemidji Middle School |
Benjamin E. Mays IB World School |
Best Academy |
Big Lake High School |
Big Lake Middle School |
Blaine High School |
Blake Middle School |
Blake Upper School |
Blessed Trinity Catholic School |
Bloomington Transition Center |
BlueSky Online School |
BOLD High School |
Breck School |
Breckenridge Public Schools |
Bridges Area Learning Center |
Brightmont Academy (Mendota Heights campus) |
Brightmont Academy (Plymouth) |
Brooklyn Center community schools |
Brooklyn Middle STEAM School |
Browns Valley School District |
Burnsville High School |
Butterfield-Odin isd836 |
Caledonia Area High School |
Calvary Classical Academy |
Cambridge Christian School |
Cambridge Primary School |
Cambridge-Isanti High School |
Camden High School |
Cannon Falls Secondary School |
Capitol Hill Magnet School |
Career Pathways Charter School |
Carlton Middle/High School |
Cass lake Bena Middle School |
Cass Lake-Bena ALC |
Cass Lake-Bena High School |
Cedar Island Elementary |
Central High School |
Central Middle School |
Central Minnesota Christian School (HS) |
Central Minnesota Christian School (MS) |
Central Park Elementary School |
Central Public Schools |
Century School |
Champlin Park High School |
Chaska Middle School East |
Chelsea Heights Elementary |
Cityview Community School |
Clearbrook-Gonvick High School |
Climax Shelly Public Schools |
Cloquet Senior High School |
Columbia Academy |
Columbia Heights High School |
Comfrey Public School |
Community of Saints Regional Catholic School |
Community School of Excellence |
Como Park Elementary |
Como Park High School |
Concordia Academy |
Cornerstone Montessori Elementary School |
Cotter High School |
Crest View Elementary |
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School |
Cromwell-Wright Public School |
Crookston Secondary ISD-593 |
Crossroads Montessori and Science |
DaVinci Academy of Arts & Science |
Daytons Bluff Achievement Plus |
Daytons Bluff Elementary |
Dean Lakes Education Center |
Deer River High School |
Delano High School |
DeLaSalle High School |
Detroit Lakes Area Learning Center |
Detroit Lakes High School |
Dover-Eyota High School |
DREAM Technical Academy |
Duluth East High School |
E-STEM Middle School |
Eagan High School |
Eagle Ridge Academy |
Eagle Ridge Middle School |
East Central High School |
East View Academy |
Eastview Elementary |
Edina High School |
Edison High School |
Educational/Alternative Learning Center - Windom |
Eisenhower Elementary |
Ella Baker Global Studies & Humanities Magnet School |
Empower Learning Center |
Esko |
EXPO Elementary School |
Face to Face Academy |
FAIR School for Arts |
Fairview Alternative High School |
Faribault Area Learning Center |
Faribault High School |
Faribault Middle School |
Farmington High School |
Farnsworth Aerospace Upper |
Fergus Falls Area Learning Center |
Fertile-Beltrami High School |
First City School |
Fisher Public School |
Five Hawks Elementary |
Floodwood School |
Folwell Elementary |
Fond du Lac Ojibwe School |
Fosston High School |
Four Seasons A+ Elementary |
Franklin Academy |
Frassati Catholic Academy |
Fridley High School |
Friendly Hills Middle School |
Friendship Academy of the Arts |
Frost Lake Elementary |
Fulda High School |
GAP School (fka Guadelupe Alternative Programs) |
Garlough Environmental Magnet School |
Gene Dillon Elementary |
Gentry Academy |
Global Arts Plus Lower |
Global Arts Plus Upper |
Goodridge Public School |
Grand Meadow Public School |
Grand Rapids High School |
Great Expectations School |
Greenbush-Middle River |
Greenway High School |
Groveland Park Elementary |
Hall STEM Academy |
Hamline Elementary School |
Hancock Public School |
Hayfield High School |
Hazel Park Preparatory Academy |
Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School |
Hennepin Elementary School/Hennepin Schools |
Hennepin Schools |
Hermantown Middle School |
Hiawatha Collegiate High School |
Hibbing High School |
Hidden River Middle School |
Higher Ground Secondary Academy |
Highland Park Elementary |
Highland Park Middle School |
Highland Park Senior High School |
Highlands Elementary |
Highwood Hills Elementary |
Hill-Murray School |
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy |
Hills-Beaver Creek |
Hinckley-Finlayson High School |
Holdingford High School |
Hollandale Christian School |
Holy Family Catholic High School |
Holy Family School |
Holy Trinity Catholic School |
Hope Academy of Hope Harbor |
HOPE Community Academy |
Hopkins High School |
Hopkins West Middle School |
Horizon Middle School |
Horizon Middle School West |
Horizon Science Academy Twin Cities |
Houston Elementary School |
Houston High School |
Humboldt High school |
Hutchinson High School |
Hutchinson Middle School |
Immanuel Lutheran School |
Intermediate District 287 |
Irondale High School |
Island Lake Elementary |
Itaskin Education Center |
Ivan Sand Community High School |
J.A. Hughes Elementary School |
Jackson County Central High School |
James Knoll Elementary |
Jefferson Elementary School |
Jefferson High School |
Jennings Community School |
Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy |
JJ Hill Montessori School |
John Glenn Middle School |
John Marshall Senior High |
Johnson High School |
Jordan High School |
Jordan Middle School |
Journey Transition Program |
Journeys Secondary School |
Justice Page Middle School |
Kasson-Mantorville High School |
Kato Public Charter School |
Kelliher School District #36 |
Kellogg Middle School |
Kennedy High School |
Kenwood Community School |
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg High School |
Kimball Area High School |
Kingdom Kids Co-Op |
Kingsland High School |
KIPP Minnesota Public Schools |
Kittson Central School |
Knights Academy |
L.H Tanglen Elementary |
L'Étoile du Nord French Immersion |
La Crescent-Hokah Middle School |
Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial |
Lake Middle School |
Lake of the Woods School |
Lake Park Audubon ISD 2889 |
Lakes International Language Academy (Upper School) |
Lakeville Online Academy Elementary |
Lakeville Pathways Academy |
Lancaster Public School |
LAUNCH @ OEC Transition Program |
Laura Jeffrey Academy |
Laurentian Elementary School |
Lewiston-Altura Elementary School |
Liberty Classical Academy |
Lincoln High School |
Lionsgate Academy - Minnetonka |
Lionsgate Academy Shoreview |
Long Prairie - Grey Eagle Secondary |
Lowell Elementary |
Loyola Catholic School |
Madison-Marietta-Nassau Elementary School |
Mahtomedi High School |
Mankato East |
Mankato West High School |
Many Rivers Montessori School |
Maple Lake High School |
Marcy School for the Arts |
Marshall Area Learning Center |
Marshall High School |
Martin County West School District |
Maxfield Elementary |
McGregor Secondary |
Metro Deaf School |
Metro Heights Academy |
Metropolitan Open School |
Midway Star Academy |
Milaca High School |
Minneapolis Sanford Middle School |
Minnesota Math and Science Academy |
Minnesota Online High School |
Minnesota Valley Lutheran |
Minnetonka High School |
Minnetonka Middle School East |
Minnewaska Area High School |
Mississippi Creative Arts |
MN Sync Online Elementary |
Montessori Renaissance Academy |
Moose Lake Elementary |
Morris Area High School |
Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School |
Mounds Park Academy |
Mounds View High School |
Mountain Iron- Buhl High School |
Mountain Lake Christian School |
Mountain Lake Public School |
Murray Middle School |
Nawaywe Center School |
Nellie Stone Johnson |
Neuhof School |
New Century School |
New Prague High School |
New Ulm Middle School |
New York Mills Junior High |
Next Step TEC |
Nicollet Public School |
Nokomis Montessori North |
North Elementary School |
North Lakes Academy Charter School |
North View Middle School |
Northeast Range School |
Northern Elementary |
Northfield High School |
Northland Community Schools |
Northland Learning Center |
Northome School |
Northside Elementary School |
Northwest Passage High School |
Notre Ecole |
Nova Classical Academy Up (Upper School) |
Oak-Land Middle School |
Ogilvie Public Schools |
Onamia Academy |
Open World Learning Community |
Ordean East Middle School |
Oshkiogimaag Charter School |
Osseo Education Center |
Osseo Senior High School |
Our Village School |
Owatonna ALC |
Pacelli Catholic School |
PACT Charter School |
Paladin Career and Technical High School |
Park Center Senior High School |
Park High School of Cottage Grove |
Park Rapids Area High School |
Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School |
Parkers Prairie |
Parkers Prairie Elementary |
Parkview Center School |
Passages Transition Program |
Pequot Lakes High School |
Perham High School |
Perpich Arts High School |
Peter Hobart Elementary |
Pike Lake Elementary |
Pillsbury Elementary School |
Pine City Elementary |
Pine City High School |
Pine Harbor Christian Academy |
Pine Island Middle School |
Pine River-Backus Elementary |
Pine River-Backus Schools |
Pioneer Elementary |
Pioneer Ridge Middle School |
Plainview Elgin Millville High School |
Plymouth Middle School (Robbinsdale Area Schools) |
Plymouth Youth Center |
Prairie View Middle School |
Pratt Elementary School |
Prior Lake High School |
Probstfield Elementary |
Proctor High School |
Quora Secondary School |
Rakabikabi Academy |
Raleigh Academy |
Randolph Heights Elementary |
Rebound, Inc. |
Red Lake County Central Elementary |
Red Lake County Central High School |
Red Rock Central |
Renville County West High School 2890 |
Richfield High School |
Risen Christ Catholic School |
River Bluff Education Center |
River Trail Learning Center |
RiverEast Therapeutic Day School |
Rivers of Living Water Homeschool |
Riverside Central Elementary |
Riverview Elementary School |
Riverview Spanish/English Dual Immersion |
Robbinsdale Academy Highview |
Robbinsdale Cooper High School |
Rochester Alternative Learning Center |
Rochester Arts and Sciences Academy |
Rochester Montessori School |
Rochester STEM Academy |
Rock Ridge High School |
ROCORI High School |
ROCORI Middle School |
Rogers Middle School |
Roosevelt High School |
Roseville Area High School |
Round Lake-Brewster |
Rush City High School |
Rushford-Peterson High School |
Russell Tyler Ruthton Secondary |
Sacred Heart Catholic School (Robbinsdale) |
Sacred Heart School (Waseca) |
Sacred Journey Academy |
Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists |
Saint Paul Music Academy |
Saint Peter High School |
Saint Peter Middle School |
Saint Thomas Academy (High School) |
Saint Thomas Academy (Middle School) |
Salk STEM Middle School |
Samuel Lutheran School |
Sauk Centre Public School |
Sauk Rapids Rice High School |
Sauk Rapids Rice Middle School |
School of Environmental Studies |
Scitech Academy |
SCV-ALC |
Sebeka High School |
Seven Hills Preparatory Academy |
Seven Hills Preparatory Academy - Burnsville Elementary |
Seven Hills Preparatory Academy-Richfield Elementary |
Shirley Hills Primary School |
Sleepy Eye Public Schools |
Sojourner Truth Academy |
South Elementary School |
South Ridge School |
Southwest Christian High School |
Southwest High School |
Spring Lake Park High School |
St John's Lutheran School |
St Theodore Elementary School |
St. Anastasia Catholic School |
St. Anthony Park Elementary |
St. Anthony Village High School |
St. Bartholomew Catholic School |
St. Bernard's School, Thief River Falls |
St. Cloud Cathedral MS/HS |
St. Croix Montessori School |
St. Croix Prep Academy |
St. John's Lutheran (NYA) |
St. John's Lutheran School (Caledonia) |
St. John's Lutheran School (Corcoran) |
St. Johns Lutheran School (Wykoff) |
St. Joseph School (Rosemount) |
St. Katharine Drexel School |
St. Louis Park High School |
St. Louis Park Middle School |
St. Paul Academy & Summit School UP and MID |
St. Paul Central HS |
St. Paul School of Northern Lights |
St. Paul's Lutheran (Arlington) |
St. Paul's Lutheran School |
St. Paul's Lutheran School (New Ulm) |
St. Peter Lutheran School |
St. Therese Catholic School |
St.Stephens Catholic School |
Stephen/Argyle Central |
Stevens Elementary |
Stewartville High School |
Stewartville Middle School |
Stillwater Area High School |
Stillwater Elementary #1 |
Stillwater Elementary #2 |
Stillwater Elementary #3 |
Stillwater Elementary #4 |
Stillwater Elementary #5 |
Stillwater Elementary #6 |
Stillwater Elementary #7 |
Stillwater Elementary #8 |
Stillwater Middle School |
Susan B. Anthony Middle School |
Susan Lindgren Elementary |
SW Metro district 288 Waseca, MN Campus |
Swanville Schools |
SWWC Glencoe ALC |
Takoda Prep High School |
Tartan High School |
Tech High School |
The Heights Community School |
The Journey School |
Thief River Falls Public Schools |
Tower Soudan Elementary |
Tracy Area Elementary School |
Transition Plus, ISD 196 |
Transition WEC |
TrekNorth Jr. and Sr. High School |
Tri City United Public High School |
Trimont Elementary |
Trinity Lutheran School (Nicollet) |
Trinity Lutheran School (Waconia) |
Triton Elementary School |
Triton High School |
Triton Middle School |
True Light Christian School |
Twin Cities Academy |
Twin Lakes STEM Academy |
Two Harbors High School |
Two Rivers High School |
Txuj Ci HMong L&C Lower Campus |
Txuj Ci HMong L&C Upper Campus |
Underwood School |
United South Central School District |
Valentine Hills Elementary School |
VandenBerge Middle School |
Venture Academy |
Waconia High School |
Waconia Middle School |
WAO High School |
Warroad Public Schools |
Washburn High School |
Washington Elementary |
Washington Technology High Schoool |
Waubun Ogema White Earth Community Schools |
Webster Education Center |
Webster Elementary |
Wellstone Elementary School |
WELS-North |
West Education Center ALC |
West Education Center High School |
Westbrook Walnut Grove High School |
White Bear Lake Area High School |
Whittier International Elementary |
Willmar Senior High School |
Willow Creek Middle School |
Willow River Area School |
Wilshire Park Elementary School |
Windom Area Schools |
Windom Community School |
Winona Middle School |
Winona Senior High School |
Woodbury High School |
Wrenshall Schools ISD 100 |
Yellow Medicine East Middle/High School |
Youable Academy |
Zeta Phi Beta Youth Affiliate Groups |
Zimmerman High School |
Zumbro Education District |
Zumbrota Mazeppa MS/HS |