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California Elections Chief Invites Schools
To Participate in Statewide Student Mock Election

SACRAMENTO - As the fall election season gets under way, Secretary of State Debra Bowen and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson once again are partnering to give California students the chance to test-drive democracy and vote on mock ballots that mirror some of the choices the state’s voters will face this November.

"High school and middle school students are the voters of the future," said Secretary Bowen, the state’s chief elections officer. "Mock elections are a great tool for teaching the value of civic engagement and encourages students to make a voting a life-long habit."

The mock election, which will be held on hundreds of school campuses throughout California on October 28, will give students the chance to voice their opinions on the gubernatorial candidates, as well as the six ballot measures on the November ballot. Once their votes are counted, students can compare their choices to those of their peers around the state, and then to the decisions made by adult voters in the statewide election held a week later.

The California Student Mock Election provides engaging, standards-based lesson plans and activities designed especially for students participating in the mock election. Participating schools will receive printed ballots and other materials, and report their results to the Secretary of State’s office.

In 2012, students from 735 schools cast ballots in California’s mock presidential election.

Schools that register by September 19 will receive printed ballots, posters, stickers and other materials by mail. After September 19, schools can download materials from the mock election website. For more information about the mock election, including teacher resources and prior-year results, visit www.sos.ca.gov/elections/studentmockelection.htm.

For more information about the November 4 General Election, go to www.sos.ca.gov/elections

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