Tennessee students to cast votes in online mock election

Students all across Tennessee will participate in the largest student-driven civics project in the United States this fall.

Millions of students will cast their votes in The My Voice National Student Mock Election, giving them the opportunity to select their candidates in both the federal and state elections and to talk about the issues they care about this fall and beyond.

This program, a digital initiative of the Pearson Foundation, builds on the 30-year history of the National Student/Parent Mock Election and My Voice, a leading program in student opinion.

More than 50 million young voters have participated while hearing about the importance of using their own voice to share their perspectives on important issues.

The 2012 national student voting began Oct. 25 and culminates on the National Mock Election Day, Nov. 1, in advance of the nation’s election.

For the first time this year, the National Student Mock Election will take place entirely online, as will student polling on national topics, social issues, education, and local communities.

Students, teachers and parents in Tennessee are encouraged to register their schools to take part at www.nationalmockelection.org.

More than 60 national civic, educational, and business organizations serve as cooperating organizations and partners.

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 election of the president, U.S. senators and representatives, and state governors.

“Our goal is to help our country’s young people understand what ‘government of the people, by the people, and for the people’ really means,” said National Student/Parent Mock Election President Gloria Kirshner.

“It is never too early to start empowering our future leaders to be involved and share their opinions about the issues that matter most. We are so pleased that students in Tennessee will be participating.”

“The Pearson Foundation is committed to quality programs that provide civic engagement opportunities and ways for students, of all ages, to have their voices heard,” said Pearson Foundation President and CEO Mark Nieker.

“Research confirms that student voice is a key driver in creating a better learning environment where students and their families are part of the decision making process for their schools.”

The National Student Mock Election was co-founded by Edward Stanley and Gloria Kirshner in 1980, as the National Student/Parent Mock Election.

For more information and to register to vote, go to www.nationalmockelection.org or www.nationalmockelection.org.

Follow us on Twitter @MyMockElection, #MyElection and at Facebook.com/NationalMockElection.