National Student/Parent Mock Election The nation’s largest voter education project. Cooperating Organizations America Online American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education American Association of Retired Persons/ American Association of School Administrators American Association of School Librarians American Federation of Teachers American Library Association American Medical Association Alliance AOL@School Association for Educational Communications and Technology Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Big Brother/Big Sisters of America Boy Scouts of America Broadcast Education Association Cable in the Classroom Camp Fire Boys and Girls USA Council of Chief State School Officers Council of Great City Schools Education Commission of the States Evangelical Lutheran Church in America General Federation of Women's Clubs Girl Scouts, USA GovernmentGuide.com International Reading Association Kiwanis International League of United Latin American Citizens League of Women Voters of the United States Lutheran Church Missouri Synod  Lutheran Schools National Association for Gifted Children National Association of Broadcasters National Association of Elementary School Principals National Association of Secondary School Principals National Association of Secretaries of State        National Association of State Boards of Education National Association of Student Councils National Broadcast Association National Catholic Education Association National Coalition of Title 1/Chapter I Parents National Community Education Association National Conference for Community and Justice National Council for Families and Television National Council for the Social Studies National Council of La Raza National Council of Teachers of English National Crime Prevention Council National Education Association National Parent Teacher Association National Retired Teachers Association National School Boards Association National School Public Relations Association National Urban League Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Skills USA - Vica Southern Baptist Radio/TV Commission The Union of American Hebrew Congregations U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress U.S. Chamber of Commerce Unitarian Universalist Association United Church of Christ - Division of Higher Education YMCA of the USA Awards AASA, NASBE, NASSP, NASC, LWV, and CNN  all sponsor awards for outstanding voter education projects in cooperation with the National Student/Parent Mock Election. Mock Election Day is October 28, 2004! All Americans are invited to join the National Student/ Parent Mock Election. There is never any charge to participate. National Mock Election Day is the students’ opportunity to make their voices and choices heard! HELP THEM TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT! } The Founders of our great nation secured for us the blessings of liberty including the right to vote. That right should not be taken lightly, and every citizen should help strengthen our democracy by exercising the right to vote. I commend your commitment to better understanding our electoral process. ~ President George W. Bush Voter apathy will lead to the loss of the freedoms Americans cherish. We are doing something about it. } The National Student/Parent Mock Election is an excellent educational program aimed at encouraging young people’s participation in the electoral process. The goal is to help them understand the process and its value in providing their guidance, as citizens, in the future direction of the country. ~ Marc Racicot, Chairman of the Republican National Committee “WHEN ELECTIONS END, THERE SLAVERY BEGINS.” —President John Adams } The DNC is proud to support the efforts of the National Student/ Parent Mock Election. It gives a new meaning to the word democracy and to the most significant political act— voting. ~ Terry McAuliffe, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Honorary Co-Chairs President Jimmy Carter, President Gerald Ford

I n the last two presidential election years alone, over 10 million students, parents and teachers have participated in the mock election process. In 2002, the National Student/Parent Mock Election joined forces with AOL, the nation’s largest internet provider, to make it possible for participants to cast votes online from around the world if they wished, foreshadowing the way Americans will vote in the future.   The State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia served as “National Election Headquarters”. CNN Studios in Atlanta served as “National Election Headquarters” in 1996 and 2000. In an age of terrorism and an unstable economy, the National Student/Parent Mock Election reminds students and parents of the power of participation in the democratic process. Through taking an active role in the mock election, students learn that their opinions and convictions do matter. They become contributing members of their communities. Public officials from every level of government can help make the Mock Election event in their states’ or districts’ schools an exciting occasion for students and parents too. The possibilities range from participating in a candidate’s forum with students and parents to speaking about election reform or careers in public service, to attending a Mock Election Day event as the votes come in. Students who have an opportunity to meet and interact face to face with you will have an experience they will always remember. Let them learn about your positions on the issues, your plans for the future, the basics of government and how they can make their own voices heard in their democracy. Your involvement can empower them to participate for a lifetime. To be put in touch with your state’s Mock Election coordinator, or with other public officials who have participated, please contact us. The University of Colorado’s evaluation of the National Student/ Parent Mock Election found that participating students showed increases in the belief that voting is important, political decision- making ability, informed involvement on current issues, the belief that social studies classes are relevant, and the discussion of political and election topics with parents. Mock election participants showed a decrease in feelings of powerlessness. Reports from students and teachers tell us that involvement in Mock Election activities frequently results in parents turning out to vote who have never before cast a vote. See our website at: www.nationalmockelection.com President: Gloria Kirshner Phone:  (for public officials and press) (520) 742-9943 E-mail: nspme@aol.com Fax: (520) 742-3553 } The National Student/Parent Mock Election offers a wonderful introduction for young people into voting and civic participation in our democracy. I sincerely hope that all Maine schools participate in this worthwhile project. ~ Senator Olympia Snowe } The present generation of young Americans under the age of 18 constitute the largest population group in the nation’s history. If present trends continue, most of these 70.2 million children and youth will not go to the polls and vote. … I ask you to help turn these dreadful statistics around by enrolling your school in the nation’s largest voter education project, the National Student/Parent Mock Election. ~ Senator John Edwards } As educators, you know how important it is to get early involvement in the civic process. It sets a pattern that will strengthen as students move into adulthood and have the opportunity to fully contribute in that process... America, which has been a beacon for free elections and democracy, has the lowest voter turnout of any of the world’s democracies. You have the ability to help turn these dreadful sta- tistics around by enrolling your school or class in the nation’s largest voter education project. ~ Senator Ted Stevens } Student mock elections are an important way to get young people involved in the democratic process. These elections raise awareness of the issues among our students and help them appreciate that they, too, have a stake in the public debate. I encourage every school across Washington State and the United States to participate in the important civic activity. ~ Senator Patty Murray } It (the Mock Election) will help us build a stronger nation for the future, and it will be an experience that none of the participants will ever forget. ~ Senator Edward Kennedy } The National Student/Parent Mock Election is not only the ‘largest voter education project ever’ (TIME), but also the largest violence prevention project ever. ~ Senator Orrin Hatch