HANSARD SOCIETY 2024 Mock Elections User Guide

HANSARD SOCIETY 2024 Mock Elections

Product Information

Specifications

• Product Name: Mock Elections 2024
• Description: A guide to running a quick mock election for educational purposes
• Duration: Can be completed in two class sessions
• Target Audience: Students, educators

Product Usage Instructions

1. Introduction: Act as the Election Returning Officer and announce the election. Provide context about elections.
2. Group Formation: Split the class into groups of 5-6 students. Each group forms a political party.
3. Research: Optional research about political parties and policies.
4. Brainstorming: Groups brainstorm issues they care about and create a map on the board.
5. Policies and Manifesto: Each party decides on policies and creates a manifesto.
6. Introduction: Parties prepare speeches, posters, and logos.
7. Task Allocation: Parties assign tasks to individuals or allocate roles if needed.
8. Presentation: Parties deliver speeches, present posters, logos, and allow for Q&A.
9. Voting: Distribute ballot papers, conduct voting, count votes, and announce results.
10. Discussion: Reflect on the election process and its fairness.

FAQ

• Q: How can I provide feedback about the toolkit/resources?
• A: Please email any feedback to contact@hansardsociety.org.uk.

Q: How can I register the outcome of the school's election?

A: Please register the results by visiting the provided weblink or scanning the QR code by the deadline.

Q: Can students participate in mock elections individually?

A: Students participate in groups by forming political parties and working together throughout the process.

Q: Are there specific guidelines for creating party policies?

A: Parties base their policies on issues they care about and present them in a manifesto during the election process.

If you are short of time you can run a mock election with one class over two lessons

CLASS 1

Introduction

Act as the Election Returning Officer. Announce that an election is going to take place. Put it into context (the general election on 4 July to elect 650 MPs to Parliament etc).
Useful resources from Parliament’s Education Service:

• Presentation on general elections (approximately 15 mins required for pupils age 7-11)
• Presentation on general elections (approximately 15 mins required for pupils age 11-16)

Step 1

• Split the class into mixed-ability groups of around 5-6. Explain that each group is going to form a political party. [5 mins]

Step 2

• Give each group a few minutes to think about what makes a good politician and decide who their candidate is – offering a reward/prize can serve as an incentive for pupils to come forward. [5 mins]

Step 3 (optional)

• Ask pupils to research information about the political parties.
• They could research information via the party websites (use the Which Party? Cue Cards – make sure you select the right one for your country as different parties stand in different parts of the UK). The BBC’s General Election 2024 site may also be useful.
• They should make a note of three or four policy ideas they agree with and three or four they don’t like. [15 mins]

Step 4

• Give each group a large piece of paper and a marker. Ask them to brainstorm issues that they care about. These can be local, national or international issues. [5 mins]

Step 5

• Take feedback from each group, creating a brainstorm map on the board. Ask them to explain why they care about certain issues. [5 mins]

Step 6

• Ask each party to decide on their own policies based on the issues that they have written down and then name their party. They can stand as an existing party (if you have included Step 3) or create their own. [10 mins]

Step 7

• Ask each group to write a manifesto based on their policies. [10 mins]
• At the end tell them they will be campaigning and voting in the next class!

CLASS 2

RESOURCES

• Ballot papers with the names of the candidates and parties on them (see Templates Pack)
• Ballot box – one can be made out of a cardboard box – an archive storage or photocopy paper box is ideal (for an example, see Step 6(ii) on page 16 of the Mock Election Toolkit for Teachers)

Introduction
Explain that each party is going to prepare a short speech explaining why people should vote for them. Each party also needs to design a poster and logo. There will then be time for each party to deliver their speech and present their posters.

Step 1
Get each party to allocate tasks to certain individuals.

• One half should focus on designing campaign materials – a logo and a poster.
• The other half should focus on writing a short speech (around 2 minutes) that explains their manifesto pledges and tells people why they should vote for them.

Allocate jobs yourself if you think that allowing pupils to choose their own roles may be time-consuming. [25 mins] Step 2

• Ask each party to come to the front of the class. The candidate should deliver their speech and the rest of the party members present their poster and logo. [20 mins]
• Depending on time available you could allow a period for Q&A.

Step 3

• Give out the ballot papers. Tell pupils to place an ‘X’ next to the candidate that they wish to vote for and place the ballot paper in the ballot box. [5 mins]

Step 4

• Count the ballot papers and announce the result! [5 mins]
• NB. If there is a tie then a party name should be pulled out of a hat to decide the winner – this happens in real elections!

Discussion: Reflect on the election process. Is an election like this a good and fair way of deciding who represents us? Will pupils vote when they are old enough? Why? Why not? [5 mins]

PLEASE REMEMBER TO REGISTER YOUR RESULT.

• We provide these materials free of charge. We ask only that you register the outcome of your school’s election so we can compile a national result.
• The deadline is 6pm on Thursday 4 July.
• You can submit the results using the weblink or QR code below. It will take just a few minutes of your time!
• https://bit.ly/mockelections2024

If you have any feedback about the toolkit/resources, please email us at contact@hansardsociety.org.uk.

Hansard Society Mock Elections 2024: A guide to running a quick mock election

References

• Interface Form - Airtable

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