From CKCA
Central Kansas Christian Academy (CKCA) students had the opportunity to experience the democratic process firsthand on Tuesday, Nov. 3, as the school hosted a mock election in conjunction with Election Day. A total of 69 students participated, learning about the importance of voting, their civic responsibilities, and how the electoral process works.
In preparation for the event, teachers distributed official-looking ballots and incorporated lessons about the electoral process into their classrooms. Students learned about the candidates and the importance of making informed choices. To help younger students identify the candidates, photographs were displayed alongside their names on the ballots.
The mock election included races for Kansas Governor and Lieutenant Governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Kansas Secretary of State, Kansas Attorney General, and Kansas State Treasurer. The student vote resulted in the following winners:
● Governor and Lieutenant Governor: Ty Masterson and Jeffrey "Jeff" Klemp
● U.S. Senator: Roger Wayne Marshall
● U.S. Representative: Tracy Mann
● Kansas Secretary of State: Pat Proctor
● Kansas Attorney General: Kris Kobach
● Kansas State Treasurer: Steven Johnson
While several races were close, Republican candidates received the majority of the students' votes. One of the highlights of the day was the opportunity for students to cast their ballots in actual voting booths.
Mrs. Jacobs, CKCA's librarian, creatively constructed voting booths out of refrigerator boxes, giving students a fun, hands-on experience that resembled a real polling place. Students took turns entering the booths and casting their votes in the ballot boxes.
The election also included several "Just-for-Fun" student ballot questions. When asked to choose a special school spirit day, students selected Twin Day, which CKCA plans to celebrate in December. For a class celebration, students chose a Pizza or Taco Party, and the Dragon received the most votes as the favorite imaginary classroom mascot.
In addition to the election and fun student questions, CKCA included a school-wide proposal asking students whether they would be willing to participate in a week-long kindness challenge, committing to one helpful or kind action each day. Students voted in favor of the challenge, demonstrating enthusiasm for finding ways to encourage and serve others.
The mock election provided CKCA students with more than just an opportunity to cast a ballot. It offered a meaningful way to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences and helped students better understand the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship. Through the combination of civic education, hands-on participation, and a little school spirit, CKCA students experienced an engaging Election Day while learning that their voices and choices matter.