Y VOTE MOCK ELECTIONS

Step 4: Voter Registration and Polling Preparation

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• Stick a Notice of Poll in several locations around the school notifying pupils of when the election is to be held, where the polling station will be and who the candidates and parties are.
  
  Download NOTICE OF POLL.pdf
  



• We suggest that you complete voter registration during tutor time. Alternatively designate a couple of lunchtimes for members of the Election Team to be in a place where many pupils will be passing (such as near the canteen). If you do it at lunchtimes be sure to give an announcement in assembly or at tutor time to inform pupils when and where registration will be taking place Ensure that pupils know that they must be registered in order to vote.
  
  NB/ If you do not have sufficient time or support from other staff you may wish to omit the registration part of the mock election, however it is an important part of the electoral process - not only do many young people not vote but many fail to even register to vote.




• Print out and cut up enough polling cards to hand to the pupils who register (all details other than the name and registration number should be filled out in advance of photocopying).
  
  Download POLLNG CARD.pdf
  



• Register pupils on the Voter Registration Form provided below. Each voter should have an individual voter registration number which is recorded on the form and then on their Poll Card (along with their name) which you give to them.
  
  Download VOTER REGISTRATION FORM.pdf

If registration takes place at tutor time you can give a couple of forms and a batch of polling cards to each form teacher. Be sure to let them know which registration numbers to allocate to avoid duplication. Form tutors may choose to retain the Poll Cards until polling day so that they do not get lost!

Use the Registering the Voters cue card to inform the Election Team.

Download REGISTERING THE VOTERS.pdf

• Prepare ballot papers for election day writing the names and parties of the candidates on the template before photocopying. Remember that the type of ballot paper you use will depend on which type of election you are running.
  
  Download BALLOT PAPERS.pdf



• Brief your Election Team on what will happen on polling day. Use the Election Team – Polling Day cue card.
  
  Download ELECTION TEAM - POLLING DAY.pdf



• Book a room or area for use on polling day. Ensure that you have a suitable ballot box and private polling areas. You may be able to borrow a real ballot box from your local council (this could be tricky around the time of a real election) or you could speak to staff from your Design and Technology department and suggest that pupils build one for you. Alternatively one can easily be made out of a cardboard box.