Mississippi Public Broadcasting has partnered with the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office in its Promote the Vote (PTV) civic engagement program for K-12 students, and one lucky teacher will receive a prize for participating.
PTV is an annual program encouraging students to learn about the voting process. Schools across Mississippi hold mock elections at their respective schools featuring realistic ballots during the month of October (with voting closing October 26). This year’s ballots will include both U.S. Senate races as well as the U.S. House race relevant to the school district. As in years past, PTV will include student art and essay contests.
MPB is adding a new element to PTV – a Best Mock Election Precinct contest for teachers. One creative teacher who transforms his or her classroom into a festive election-themed “mock precinct” will win a grand prize courtesy of MPB. To enter the contest, teachers need to:
- Like Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s Facebook page
- Post two photos of their “mock precinct” on their personal Facebook pages
- Tag @MPBonline and include name of school
- Ensure the post is set for public viewing
The deadline to enter the Best Mock Election Precinct contest is October 26.
The deadline for submissions to the student art and essay contest is December 7. Judging takes place in January, and an awards ceremony will be held at the State Capitol in February 2019. Top winners of the art and essay contests from specific grade brackets and winning schools will receive awards from local banks.
This year’s PTV theme is “Make a Difference in Mississippi.” Registration for PTV is open at www.sos.ms.gov/PTV.
Schools and teachers across Mississippi are encouraged to take part in this hands-on civic engagement learning initiative! For more information about PTV, visit www.sos.ms.gov/PTV. Questions can be directed to rachel.jaeger@sos.ms.gov or (601) 359-9362.
