Minnesota Humanities Center

Grantee Highlight: YMCA of the North’s Students Voting Program Largest Mock Election of the 2024 Season

Posted January 23, 2025

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, as those 18 years and older cast their votes for the presidential election, students across Minnesota cast their ballots for the YMCA of the North’s Students Voting mock election at their respective schools. This program, a collaboration with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office and a recipient of MHC’s Civics Grant, is designed to help K-12 students learn about the importance of elections and the power of their voice and their vote in democracy.

In 2024, over 300,000 students across Minnesota cast their mock ballot which is nearly twice as many students that participated in 2022. The YMCA of the North’s Center for Youth Voice believes this was the country’s largest mock election for the 2024 election season.

More than 525 schools across Minnesota participated in the mock election, with each participating school receiving realistic local ballots, ballot boxes, privacy screens to set up desktop/tablet voting booths, and I’ve Voted stickers. The program also provided an online Voter’s Guide to help students learn about the roles of different elected officials and each candidate’s position on the issues. The results of the mock election were updated live throughout Election Day on a dynamic online dashboard.

At some schools, local city officials – including Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert – participated in making sure that the mock elections ran smoothly. Teachers and parents alike were thrilled to have their young ones be able to learn about their future civic duty. Students were excited to participate as well with some stating, “I cannot believe I get to vote!” and, “This was just like when I went with my parents to vote.”

Research confirms that mock elections help build voting and democracy participation habits. Students Voting gives youth realistic opportunities to understand and practice civic engagement, supporting them as they learn to make their voices heard and strengthen the communities in which they live and work. The YMCA’s Students Voting team hopes to have planted some seeds in creating future voters and increasing civic engagement across Minnesota.

Students Voting Program in the News:

WDIO – Lowell Lions learning about elections by casting their own ballots

Minnesota Star Tribune – Denker: Watching students vote in a mock election filled me with hope

MPR News – A Minnesota election for the ages? Yes, ages 4 through 10

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Amy Anderson Headshot
By: Amy Anderson

Amy Anderson is the Executive Director for the YMCA of The North's Center for Youth Voice.