More than 175 schools across New Brunswick are taking part in the province’s largest Student Vote ever, giving kids a hands-on introduction to local politics.
Ahead of the May 11 municipal elections, more than 15,000 elementary, middle, and high school students are expected to cast mock ballots in their classrooms.
The Student Vote is a program run by CIVIX, a non‑partisan registered Canadian charity focused on helping students learn about elections, government budgets, elected representatives, and digital media literacy.
Registered schools will receive a range of non‑partisan educational materials designed to teach students about the election process while encouraging them to do their own research. To make the experience more realistic, schools are also provided with ballots, ballot boxes, and voting screens.
Students will vote for local mayors, councillors, and education council members in their communities, spanning 62 municipalities and rural districts.
Educators say the program helps students understand how elections work in real life, while showing them the importance of local democracy by bringing the voting process directly into the classroom.
Student Vote results will be released publicly after polls close on election day, with results broken down by individual schools.
