Mandan High School students conduct mock elections to promote voting literacy

MANDAN, N.D. (KYR) – Not all high school students are old enough to vote, but some will be filling out a ballot for the first time.

It’s a different type of test that Mandan High School senior Ethan Ressler studied for. He is preparing to vote for the first time and is studying the measures.

His class holds schoolwide elections to teach students how to vote, especially high school students who may vote, so they don’t go into it blindly.

“I think it helps, like, knowing that you don’t just know things and so you know what’s important to you and to be heard,” Ressler said.

His class sent out emails with information about the elections and measures.

All classes will have a polling station to fill out ballots.

“Basically telling you exactly how the election will work, where to go, how the ballot works, what will be on it, and how you vote on it, and what you need to fill out, and what you don’t have to fill out,” Camryn Wangler said , senior.

Social studies teacher Curt Miller received a real scanner from the county auditor, along with sample ballots and stickers.

“The importance of voting and civic duty. And then, you know, on top of that, we have a lot of seniors who can vote this year, teaching them the mechanics and how easy it actually is to vote so that no one is afraid to go vote. And then because of that process and the fact that our students are kind of teaching it to younger students and how easy it is,” Miller said.

This becomes more realistic every year as students delve deeper into the project, he said.

“It helps teach you about democracy because you can fill it out and kind of have a say in what you put on the ballot,” Wangler said.

He said he would use the class’s skills in surveys.

Students will compare their results to national results.