Mock general election

Thousands of school students will have the opportunity to have their say in mock elections that will introduce them to the voting process.

Already 609 schools have signed up for Kids Voting – Te Pōti a Ngā Tamariki 2023 – with about 98,000 students expected to take part.

The Electoral Commission is encouraging other schools to register for the free, fun and easy programme.

“It’s such a great opportunity for school students of all ages to get a taste of what it’s like to vote in a general election,” Electoral Commission deputy chief executive operations Anusha Guler says.

“What we’ve found is that kids benefit from learning about the voting process and get a real thrill out of having their vote counted in a mock election.”

School resource packs include:
• A Kids Voting ballot box
• Curriculum-linked teaching resources
• A Teachers’ Guide to running a mock election

We also send posters that teachers can put up around their classroom.

The idea is to support students to explore real-life election issues and the parties and candidates standing in the election.

“The experience is made as authentic as possible, with kids voting mock papers containing actual parties and candidates from their electorate,” Guler says.

Schools can sign up for the programme or find out more information at www.kidsvoting.co.nz