The National Student/Parent Mock Election will be held on October 30, 2008, five days before the national election. The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) encourages radio and television stations to begin partnering with local schools now, before the end of the school year, to plan activities leading up to Mock Election Day. To assist local broadcasters, NABEF has developed a Mock Election Tool Kit with all the materials stations need to sponsor mock elections in their local markets. The tool kit provides more than a dozen ideas on how radio and television stations can participate in mock election activities, such as:

• Use your election coverage and public affairs programs as the springboard for student/parent discussions of national issues prior to the Mock Election.
• Invite selected students to observe newscasters in candidate interviews at the local level and to participate in panels for such interviews
• Sponsor a "Pass On the Importance of the Vote" parade, and send on-air personalities to march with the students or air live segments from the event.

This non-partisan voter education program brings awareness to students and parents about the power and importance of voting and gives your station the opportunity to provide community support. Getting involved with the Student Mock Election enhances stations' voter education efforts for the real national elections by providing a public service that engages multiple generations in the election process and inspires students to become lifelong voters.

For more information and to learn how you can get involved, click here.