A program aimed at giving students a taste of democracy is gearing up for a busy season with a provincial election on the horizon in Alberta.
Student Vote, a school-based program operated by CIVIX, provides resources and lesson plans aimed at helping teachers encourage students to become informed about election issues and candidates.
The program enables students to vote in parallel elections held alongside actual elections. In the weeks leading up to the vote, students learn about government and democracy, research the candidates and discuss campaign issues in school and at home. Students then take on the roles of election officials and co-ordinate a parallel vote, whose results are tabulated and released publicly after official voting ends.
Participating schools receive free learning materials and election supplies such as activity guides, posters, an election manual, ballots and ballot boxes. So far, the program has registered more than 1,200 Alberta schools and expects more than 175,000 students to cast a ballot, said CEO Lindsay Mazzucco.
Parents can play a role in the Student Vote program. Some participating teachers share the resources with families and there are many informative videos that can be viewed at home.
“Sometimes having students come home and being enthusiastic about democracy and the election process can help inspire parents to participate in the election,” Mazzucco said.
The program also encourages parents to take their children to the voting station when they cast their ballot.
“We actually did a study with Elections Canada back in 2015 and found that 28 per cent of parents felt that their child’s participation in Student Vote encouraged them to vote.”
The provincial election slated to take place on May 29 will mark the fifth time the Student Vote program has taken place in Alberta at the provincial level. Packages are being shipped to schools and a variety of online resources are available on the Student Vote Alberta website. The organization is also working on a video project in which political leaders will respond via video to questions collected from students.
“The Student Vote program provides an opportunity for parents and caregivers to learn about the election alongside their children and make it a family affair,” Mazzucco said.
Student Vote
For more information about Student Vote, visit studentvote.ca.
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