By Jamie Hanzo
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November 13, 2026
Civics in Action: Students Debate, Campaign, and Cast Their Votes Learning about presidential elections came to life in Mrs. Linegang '20's Civics Honors class as students participated in a mock presidential debate and election to choose their class president. From developing campaign platforms to casting ballots, students experienced the election process firsthand while exploring how the Electoral College shapes the outcome of a presidential race. Building a Campaign Platform Student candidates prepared campaign platforms proposing changes to school policies. Their ideas addressed topics such as the school calendar, bell schedule, grading policies, lunch policies, and phone policy. The assignment challenged candidates to consider issues relevant to their classmates and explain why their proposed changes deserved support. Taking the Debate Stage During the debate, candidates presented their platforms to the class. Their classmates took on the role of informed voters, listening carefully, taking notes on each candidate’s proposals, and checking off the ideas they agreed with. The debate gave candidates an opportunity to practice public speaking and persuasive communication while encouraging voters to evaluate the proposals before making their decisions. Bringing the Electoral College to Life Each voter was assigned a state to represent in the mock Electoral College. When students placed their ballots in the ballot box, their votes carried the number of electoral votes assigned to their state in an actual presidential election. Rather than determining the winner by simply counting individual ballots, the class tallied electoral votes. The candidate who earned a majority of those electoral votes won the election. This hands-on approach helped students see how states with different numbers of electoral votes contribute to the final result. A Lesson Beyond the Ballot Box The mock election brought together research, critical thinking, public speaking, and thoughtful decision-making. Candidates practiced advocating for their ideas, while voters considered different perspectives and made informed choices. By stepping into the roles of candidates and electors, our Civics Honors students turned a classroom lesson into an engaging experience in civic participation.