I Voted! Student Election
Kids Voting
Experience elections with GenerationNation’s Student Election!
K-12 students learn about and get involved in elections each year though a mock vote, service-learning in polling places, student council elections, and more. Since the North Carolina program was launched in Charlotte in 1992, hundreds of thousands of students have participated. All programming is nonpartisan.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg area
Every year, each student has the exciting opportunity to experience elections! Students in kindergarten through high school participate in a variety of ways, including:
- Learning about candidates, issues, and democracy
- Voting to elect the Student Advisor to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ school board
- Student voice on real ballot candidates and issues
- Service-learning in community polling sites
Election results are counted and shared after Election Day.
Cities and school districts in other areas
GenerationNation’s programs are available to all teachers and students in any location. We can help you to connect real world learning and elections and voting using adaptable lessons and ballots. No need to track down, vet, or pay for a program when you can easily create your own! Contact us to learn how to involve your school or youth program in GenerationNation and the student election!
Election Toolkits
Election 2023 civic learning opportunities (you may need to click to open this section)
Election 2023
This election activity will be focused on student voice in Charlotte-Mecklenburg local candidates and issues on the ballot including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg town mayors, CMS bond referendum, and electing the 2024 CMS Student Advisor
- Students vote October 23-November 7, 2023
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg area ballots for K-5 and 6-12
- CMS Student Advisor Election (CMS students in grades 9-12)
Educational resources and election information for Charlotte-Mecklenburg community
- Teaching resources (click grade level to access)
- Meet the candidates
- Service-learning in polling places for ages 17 and up – paid volunteer opportunity with the Board of Elections
- Student Advisor to the Board of Education candidates and information
Student ballots (to be posted here just before October 23)
Voter registration information
- Plan and lead a voter registration drive at your school
- Information about voter registration and pre-registration
Ages 18 and older
Election 2024 civic learning opportunities (you may need to click to open this section)
Primary Election 2024
This election activity will be focused on student voice in NC and the US including party primaries for NC Governor and US President.
- Students vote February 26-March 5, 2024
- NC Ballot – NC Governor and US President
- US Ballot – President
Educational resources and election information – we are updating this for Election 2024, check back later in the year
- Teaching resources (click grade level to access)
- K-5
- Middle
- High
- Meet the candidates
- Service-learning in polling places for ages 17 and up – paid volunteer opportunity with the Board of Elections
- Student Advisor to the Board of Education candidates and information
Voter registration information
- Plan and lead a voter registration drive at your school
- Information about voter registration and pre-registration
Ages 18 and older
- Election information for registered voters
- NC Voter ID information
Strategies for connecting real world content focused on elections and voting to your class or school – create your own election learning opportunity no matter where you are located
- Non-partisan teaching strategies
- Create your own candidate guides, analysis tools, jigsaw, and ballot
- Incorporating reading, writing, discussion, inquiry, and more
Election 2022
Election 2022
This election activity will be focused on student voice on candidates and issues on the ballot including US Senate and Congress, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, City of Charlotte and Matthews referendums, and electing the 2023 Student Advisor
- Students vote October 25-November 8, 2022
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg area ballots for K-5 and 6-12
- CMS Student Advisor Election (CMS students in grades 9-12)
- NC ballot (Senate only)
- Meet the candidates
- Teaching resources (click grade level to access)
- Service-learning in polling places for ages 17 and up – paid volunteer opportunity with the Board of Elections
- Student Advisor to the Board of Education candidates and information
Voter registration information
- Plan and lead a voter registration drive at your school
- Information about voter registration and pre-registration
Ages 18 and older
Partners
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Charter, independent, religious and home schools
Mecklenburg County Board of Elections
Charlotte region (NC/SC) and NC school districts
NC Civics Coalition
Teaching for Democracy Alliance/Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, a program of Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University (GenerationNation is a member of the TDFA coalition that is working to provide high quality, evidence-based curriculum and strategies for civic literacy)
Arizona Bar Foundation/KVUSA
Other organizations