Minnesota Secretary Of State - Students Voting Statewide Mock Election
Skip to main content

Students Voting Statewide Mock Election


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

-----

"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?

  • hands-on experience with the electoral process

  • to cast a customized mock ballot and have their statewide and national votes tallied and shared

  • a sense of the responsibility and power they will soon hold as voters.

    Students Voting is designed to give schools and teachers both flexibility and support.

    Schools will receive everything they need: printable customized realistic election ballots; tabletop voting booths; ballot boxes; resources and lesson plans that teachers may use; “I Voted” stickers; and creative ideas for making your election a success.

 

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:

  • California has been running a successful statewide student mock election with schools since 2006, with over 250,000 students participating.

  • In Iowa, nearly 60,000 students participated in the statewide Youth Presidential Straw Poll ahead of Iowa Caucuses. Students from over 250 schools participated.

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.

  • Some wish to customize their ballot for the mock election, but teach about/explain all the current races, and that is great!  Your full sample ballot may be seen 45 days before the election at: SAMPLE BALLOT 
    (Sample ballot is not available for all local elections. You may need to contact the local government (city, town or school district) holding the election.)

WHO DO I ASK IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?  CLICK HERE!

2024 Participant List 

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