Our Student Mock Election program has received lots of kudos from students, teachers and parents as a valuable educational tool that helps develop good voting habits. Now, it’s being honored by the Seattle CityClub.

CityClub has selected the Mock Election program as a 2012 winner of its Colleen Willoughby Youth Civic Education Awards. It’s one of five civic education efforts honored statewide. The award will be presented at the National Council of the Social Studies annual conference in Seattle this November.

“This is a tremendous honor for our Mock Election program,” said Secretary of State Sam Reed. “It reflects the outstanding work by our Voter Education and Outreach team. The Mock Election is an excellent way to introduce students to voting. It’s important that students acquire the skills and passion to fully participate in their communities. Voting is a crucial part of that.”

CityClub has more about the awards announcement here.

This year’s Mock Election will take place Oct. 29 through Nov. 2. K-12 students, including those who are homeschooled,  can “vote” online on real ballot measures and candidates. It’s fast, easy and free for students to take part. It takes only a few minutes for students to vote, and no preregistration is necessary. Results will be posted online Nov. 2 after 1 p.m.

Last year, nearly 14,000 students voted in the Mock Election, which began in 2004.

For more information about the Mock Election program, contact JulieAnne Behar at (360) 725-5795 or [email protected].