Classrooms across St. Francis High School transformed into bustling polling places as students cast their ballots in a schoolwide mock election during their advisory period Monday. The civic engagement initiative gave students hands-on experience navigating the voting process before they reach voting age.
SFHS Social Studies Teacher Julie Cuscaden organized the event and designed the simulation to mirror an authentic election day experience from start to finish. Students were chosen to serve as election judges to help their peers through the voting process of checking in, receiving their sample ballot, voting, and submitting their ballots. The students even received an “I’ve Voted” sticker to mark the milestone.
“The whole idea is to familiarize students so that they’re equipped and empowered to be active voters,” Cuscaden said, noting that unfamiliarity with ballots and the voting process is often one of the biggest hurdles keeping young people from voting. “Students got exposure to what a real ballot looks like and they also went through a simulated experience with what actually happens when you’re voting at the polling place.”
Following the advisory period, Cuscaden’s Government class collected the ballots from classrooms and began tabulating the results. Through this immersive exercise, SFHS students didn't just study civic duty in a textbook, they stepped into the voting booth and practiced democracy in action.