It's time for students throughout Alabama to continue the WINNING TRADITION they started back in 1996 when, for the first time, Alabama brought home national honors for participation in the National Student Mock Election. That trend was repeated two years ago when students in our state were named "Tops in the Nation" in the total number of votes cast.

Now, it's time to do it again! Alabama Student Mock Election 2000 is set for Wednesday, November 1. Here's how your school can once again be a national winner. Each school should adapt and plan the program to meet your local needs. The first step is to attend the Alabama Student Mock Election Kickoff Rally at the American Village on Tuesday, September 19. The other only real deadline is Wednesday, November 1st: Alabama Student Mock Election Day. Student involvement is the goal for Student Mock Election 2000.

(Note: The National Mock Election is November 2. However a resolution has set Wednesday, November 1 as the official voting day in Alabama - Alabama will report its votes nationally on November 2. If you want your school's votes counted - vote and report your votes on Wednesday, November 1!)

REMEMBER, THIS IS A PROJECT FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE FULLY. STUDENTS RESEARCH ISSUES AND CANDIDATES. THEY CAN DEBATE, WRITE ARTICLES FOR THE SCHOOL AND LOCAL PAPERS, SEEK AND GIVE INTERVIEWS, AND PERFORM VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE SIGNIFICANT DUTIES INVOLVED IN AN ELECTION. TEACHERS AND OTHER ADULTS SERVE AS NONPARTISAN, IMPARTIAL FACILITATORS

Here are ways students can be involved:

	Students should conduct as much of the election as possible.
	Groups of students should count the ballots.
	A student, under adult supervision or under the supervision of a committee of students should report the official election returns.

Suggestions that have worked for schools in the past:

	Conduct a scavenger hunt...students seek presidential brochures, buttons, fundraising letters, advertisements, etc..
	Stage a convention
	Borrow a real voting booth
	Invite legislators and other elected officials into the classroom to speak
	Stage election night parties (pizza and politics) to watch mock election returns
	Invite local newspapers into the classroom. Political reporters provide excellent resources.

Checklist:

	Make sure your school is registered to participate. Register online here. This will make sure your school attends the Kickoff Rally on September 19, and receives the OFFICIAL ballot as well as information for reporting your vote totals.
	Incorporate the campaign and election into the existing course of study. Supplementary curricular materials will be available online soon.
	Make sure you share the name and mailing address of any teacher who wants to be on our mailing list. (here)
	Involve partners. Your PTA or parent organization can serve as a great resource. Bring in community speakers.

Key Dates and Activities

Tuesday, September 19 - Alabama Student Mock Election Kickoff Rally at the American Village, Alabama's nationally pioneering civic education center and historical park. All K-12 schools are invited to send official Student Delegates to this kickoff rally. Cost is $5 per delegate and $5 per teacher. Preregistration is required. Please complete the attached registration form to sign up for the meeting AND to register your school for participation in Alabama Student Mock Election 2000.

OFFICIAL CALL FOR DELEGATES TO THE ALABAMA STUDENT MOCK ELECTION KICKOFF RALLY AT THE AMERICAN VILLAGE All K-12 schools are invited to send the following delegates: ELEMENTARY - 2 Students, 2 Adults MIDDLE SCHOOL - 4 Students, 2 Adults HIGH SCHOOL - 6 Students, 2 Adults

Tuesday, October 3 - Deadline for student and adult volunteers to apply to serve at the State Capitol on Mock Election night. Selected students will meet for orientation at the State Capitol on November 1st at 4 pm. You may register online here.

Wednesday, October 11 - Official Ballot information will be mailed to the school principal or other designated election coordinator. This will include how to report your school's vote totals on election night.

Wednesday, November 1 - Alabama Student Mock Election

At your school - You decide whether to hold the election by homeroom, by grade, or by schoolwide polls. We hope you involve all grades possible K-12. Your students count the votes. At the appointed time, a special time assigned to your school, you will report your vote totals per future instructions.

At the State Election Headquarters - The State Headquarters will be in the Old House Chamber at the historic State Capitol in Montgomery. Returns will come in from all over the state and students will tabulate and report them. Students who want to assist in this effort have until Oct. 3, 2000 to apply. (See registration form) Only 150 students will be selected statewide. Watch television that night for live broadcasts and news reports of election returns.

"The essence of our American civic system is participation.
Teaching participation is what this election is all about."
Tom Walker, Executive Director
The American Village

Squeaky Clean Mock Election Is The Goal

Citizenship Trust Director Tom Walker would like to remind teachers, parent volunteers, and other adult leaders involved in your school's Mock Election that the job for adults is to serve as "impartial, nonpartisan facilitators." Your task is to provide a fair, neutral election process which involves students as leaders and learners.

This exercise is about helping young people discover political issues on their own, and debate on their own, and vote on their own. All adults assisting in the election should use an extra degree of non-partisanship and impartiality when working with the student mock election. That is the standard by which The Citizenship Trust and The American Village works in this election. The American Village website will provide a link to each Presidential candidate's official website. The only other place the Village will note candidate names is on the official ballot which we will distribute to schools early in October for the November 1 election.

The mock election is not about which candidate wins or loses. It is about helping a new generation of young American citizens prepare themselves for one of the most important roles they will have as Americans, that of citizen-voters. If we adults do a good impartial job, the spotlight on November 1 will be on Alabama's young people as they practice exercising the right to vote. And Alabama students will be the winners as they increasingly appreciate the American legacy of liberty and self-government for which so many have sacrificed so much.

#1 #1 #1 #1 OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE ALABAMA #1 IN THE NATION!

Don't Let The Candidates Get All The Coverage

Your schoool's participation in Alabama Mock Election 2000 is a good time to let your community share in some of the activities you are involved in as you go about preparing your students for their role as citizen-voters. The most effective way to accomplish that goal is to bring on the media.

In newsrooms throughout this state everyday, editors, producers, and reporters gather to plan their coverage of the days events. They are looking for good, colorful stories about what local people are doing in their communities. They can't cover an event if they don't know about it. With just a little old fashioned public relations, and prior planning you will be surprised at the response you'll get and your kids will be excited to be a local celebrity on the 5 o'clock news.

The first step is to let your local media know that your school is involved in the mock election, then let them know what the mock election is all about. Contact them early, and contact them often. Outline specific events such as kickoff rallies, voter registration drives, mock debates, etc. Call the day before an event to remind them, then call again. Many times persistence pays when you're seeking publicity. Remember to be specific. Let the media know exactly what they can expect from any given event. If Sousa's Stars and Stripes will be blasting from the loud speaker as children march in waving tiny American flags, spell it out, describe the scene, and make the media feel like they've got to be there. To get good publicity, you need to be a good salesperson.

Remember that for television coverage, the station's assignment editor is your best friend. Don't rely on press releases alone. Personal contact either by visit or phone call is best.

Newspapers, most of which have reporters who routinely cover the education "beat," can concentrate on more in-depth coverage. You might want to consider inviting a reporter to spend the day with your class. For instance, an education or political reporter might find ideas about public opinion on a certain candidate interesting from a kid sized perspective.

You might also want to consider appointing a student public relations "director" or a public relations committee whose job will be to decide which events the media might be interested in covering. These students, will then be responsible for contacting the media and maybe even for writing press releases with teacher approval. That in itself might make an interesting and fresh new angle for local coverage.

These are all suggestions for pre-election day activities, but don't forget November 1. When election day rolls around, most media will want to be invited to cover the voting. They'll also want to know the results. Keep them informed.

WANTED - MEDIA IDEAS Let us know what your school is doing. Send us a brief narrative with who, what, where, and when. Especially let us know any activities set right before the election. We will issue a media advisory to alert local and state media of news opportunities in local schools. Please send your information to: The American Village Citizenship Trust P.O. Box 6 Montevallo, Alabama 35115 or contact us by email.