Y VOTE MOCK ELECTIONS

Step 1: Initial Preparation

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• Decide what kind of mock election you want to run. Y Vote coordinate mock elections and collate results to coincide with real elections and this is often a great way for schools to give a mock election greater relevance and value. Information on all types of elections is provided in the Election Information section.


• Decide how many pupils are going to be involved in your election – are you going to run it with just one class, a whole year group or even perhaps the whole school?


• Set out a timetable or calendar for your mock election. Organise an assembly to announce that the election is taking place and book a room for use on polling day.


• Inform other staff about the election as necessary. Let them know if you expect any of them to devote their tutor time or Citizenship lessons to election activities. Appoint an election officer (this could be yourself).

Extension Activities:

Tell the local press about your Y Vote Mock Election Why not issue a press release to let the local press know about your mock election? Newspapers are often very interested in these sorts of events and they might even want to come along to speak to pupils and get some photos.

Press Release.doc

Organise a Hustings with Local Politicians! Why not invite local politicians into your school for a hustings event? A hustings can provide students with an opportunity to give politicians a grilling on the issues that really matter to them. The Hansard Society’s ‘Elected Representatives in Schools’ publications offer advice on how to get politicians into schools and suggest some activities you may run on the day and beforehand. It also gives advice on how to get the local media to cover your event. You can request a free copy by emailing the (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Contact the local offices of political parties - inform them of your Y Vote Mock Election - they can be invaluable in providing leaflets, badges and other campaigning resources for students to use.

Find out what other schools are doing – check out our Y Vote map to see if there are any schools in your area running a mock election. Checking out our Y Vote stories section for case studies of what has gone on in other schools might also give you some good ideas for activities in your own school.