Spirit of Democracy Mock Election Program

A cornerstone of the SOS's civics programming is the conduction of statewide mock elections, which are held prior to both the primary and general elections. The program targets all middle and high school students from every geographic region throughout the state. Particular emphasis is placed on the state’s 203,002 high school students ages 14-18, whose participation in future elections is most imminent. This year, Kentucky will partner with the National Student/Parent Mock Election and the University of Virginia's Youth Leadership Institute to provide students and educators with the resources necessary to execute innovative and educational mock election programs. Mock Election Day will be held October 30, 2008.

The National Student/Parent Mock Election (NSPME) is the nation's oldest, largest and most successful youth voter outreach program. NSPME  engages students and their parents in the political process by actively involving them in a full-fledged campaign and national election. In 2004, the last presidential election year, over 4 million students, parents and teachers participated in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 14 countries/territories around the world where Americans have schools. Over 40 million have participated since the project began.

For more information about NSPME, click here.

The University of Virginia's Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) creates non-partisan exercises in voting, the legislative process, political campaigns and elections, and other components central to understanding the American democratic system. To date, over one and a half million students have participated in the program through our on-line lesson plans, aligned to each state’s civics and government standards, an internet-based Mock Election, the campaign simulation CD-ROM A More Perfect Union, and our hallmark program for the spring semester, e-Congress, an on-line legislative simulation.

Visit the YLI website for more information.