Phoenix – Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett has joined an effort to encourage students across the state to participate in the largest student-driven civics project in the United States this fall.

Students will have the opportunity to cast their votes in the My Voice™ National Student Mock Election on October 25th giving them the opportunity to select their candidates in both federal and state elections, and to talk about the issues they care about this fall and beyond.

More than 40 schools around Arizona are planning to participate in the National Student Mock Election. Roadrunner Elementary School in Phoenix, Mingus Springs Charter School in Chino Valley and Sam Hughes Elementary School in Tucson to name a few.

For the first time this year, the National Student Mock Election will take place entirely online, as will student polling on national topics, social issues, education, and local communities. Students, teachers, and parents in Arizona are encouraged to register their schools to take part at www.nationalmockelection.org.

Free materials and curriculum has been developed for teachers to create lesson plans leading up to and around the upcoming election of the president, U.S. senators, representatives, and state officials.

The National Student Mock Election was co-founded by Edward Stanley and Gloria Kirshner in 1980, as the National Student/Parent Mock Election. After three decades, and 18 elections, it still stands as the world’s largest national mock election.

For more information and to register to vote, go to www.nationalmockelection.org or call 1-888-936-VOTE.