Election Day Activities for Kids: A Fun Way to Celebrate!

Whether you’re a fellow parent like me or an educator on the hunt for Election Day activities for your elementary students, there’s no shortage of creative ways to help the little ones have a great time learning about election time.

Although my kids are far from the voting age, that doesn’t stop us from learning about it! It’s important to introduce kids to the democratic process, and Election Day is the best way to do just that. From election-themed crafts to hosting a mini mock election, there are so many fun ways to teach kids about voting!

So, break out the craft supplies, round up the kids, and let’s turn Election Day into something fun, memorable, and packed with learning!

Why Election Day Is Important for Kids

We all know Election Day is a huge part of the democratic process here in the U.S. But why should kids care about it? Well, voting is more than just checking a box—it’s about showing young people that their voice has power. By getting them involved in Election Day activities, we’re helping them see how they can make informed decisions that impact their community and even the whole country.

Let’s be real: we all want our kids to grow up as informed and thoughtful citizens. What better way to kick that off than by turning Election Day into a fun and educational experience?

Explaining Elections to Kids

So, what exactly is Election Day? How do we break down the voting process for younger kids who may be hearing these terms for the first time?

One great way to explain it is to say that Election Day is when people vote to decide who will lead our country, state, or town. It’s like choosing a class president but on a much bigger scale! The election process allows people to choose their leaders through voting, and that’s a big part of how our democratic system works.

For younger kids, you might compare voting to something they understand, like choosing a favorite book character or deciding what to have for dinner. The idea of casting a vote can be simple: we’re all making choices, and everyone gets a say!

Fun Election-Themed Crafts

My 2nd grade class’ favorite way to celebrate Election Day is through crafts. Election-themed activities are not only fun but also a hands-on way to teach kids about the electoral process. Here are a few ideas:

Create Your Own Campaign Buttons: Kids love wearing badges, and what better way to get them excited about voting than by making their own campaign buttons? Let them pick their favorite colors, draw presidential candidates (or even fun, imaginary candidates!), and write catchy slogans. For a fun twist, instead of picking an actual candidate, have students pick a class mascot or a favorite snack.
DIY Voting Booth: Setting up a pretend voting booth at home or in the classroom is a fantastic way to help kids feel like they’re part of the voting process. All you need is a cardboard box and some markers to make a private voting space where they can cast their votes.
Make Election Day Posters and Signs: Campaign posters are an essential part of any election season. Have the kids design their own campaign poster for their classroom election or mock election. It’s a great way to teach them about campaign strategies and how candidates present themselves to voters.

Role-Playing Voting Scenarios

election day activities for elementary students

Role-playing is another fun activity that helps kids grasp the importance of elections. Setting up a mock election at home or in school is an exciting way to let kids experience the election process firsthand. Here are a few ideas to try:

Host a Classroom Election: Whether you’re voting for a class mascot or deciding which playground game to play, holding a classroom election is a great way to introduce the idea of the popular vote. Students can campaign for their choices, create slogans, and even make their own campaign posters.
Let’s Vote at Home: Bring the election process into your home by setting up a vote for dinner or movie night! Everyone gets to cast a vote, and the winning choice is what the family will enjoy. It’s a simple way to teach your kids about the voting booth and how ballots work.
How to Set Up a Pretend Polling Station: Want to take it up a notch? You can even set up a full mock polling station with a ballot box, paper ballots, and a designated “poll worker” (which can be one of the kids or a parent). It’s the perfect way to teach them how the voting process works in real life.

Educational Election Day Games

If you’re looking for more structured election day lessons, try incorporating games that focus on the electoral process. Here are a few fun activities that blend learning with play:

Election Bingo: This is a great game for elementary students! Create a bingo card filled with election terms like “ballot box,” “polling place,” “electoral votes,” and “presidential candidates.” As you talk about these terms, kids can mark them off their cards.
Voting Trivia: Test your kids’ knowledge with a trivia game that focuses on the election process. You can create questions about the history of voting rights, the White House, past presidents, and famous elections throughout history.
Create a Puzzle of the Electoral Map: For older kids, creating a puzzle of the electoral map is a fun way to learn about how electoral votes work in the United States. As they piece the map together, explain how different states have different numbers of electoral votes, and why those numbers matter in determining the outcome of the election.

Interactive Voting Projects

election day activities voting projects for kids

Want to dive deeper into Election lessons? Try some hands-on projects that kids can work on individually or with small groups of students.

Make Your Own Ballots: Have the kids create their own ballots for a mock election. You can let them vote on fun topics like their favorite book character, favorite sport, or favorite animal.
Count the Votes: Once the ballots are in, teach the kids how to count the votes. This is an excellent opportunity to explain the difference between the popular vote and the electoral vote, especially for middle school or high school students.
Tracking the Election Results: Set up a kid-friendly chart to track the election results in real time. This could be done in the classroom or at home, and it’s a great way to keep kids engaged with what’s happening throughout Election Day.
Campaign Brochures: Use these election worksheets as a fun project for kids. Have students apply for a classroom job by campaigning and filling out their voter registration card.

For print-ready election activities, check out my complete Mock Election and Voting Activities for Kids.

Reading and Technology About Elections

One of the best ways to help kids understand the importance of voting is through stories and videos. Here are some free resources to check out:

Books to Teach Kids About Voting: There are some amazing books out there that make the election process simple and fun for kids. Titles like “Duck for President” or “Grace for President” are perfect for elementary students.
Kid-Friendly Election Day Videos and Documentaries: If your kids love watching videos, there are plenty of age-appropriate documentaries and videos about the election process. Some even include animated historical figures to help explain things in a way kids can relate to.
Reading Comprehension Passages: A great option for independent work is to give students a nonfiction passage with comprehension questions to show what they have learned, like this one here.

Teaching Kids About Good Citizenship

Election Day offers a great opportunity to go beyond just the act of voting and dive into the concept of good citizenship. It’s the perfect time to explain to kids that voting is not only a right but also a responsibility that requires being informed and thoughtful. Help them understand that casting a vote isn’t just about choosing a favorite—it’s about making decisions that reflect values and benefit the community as a whole.

Election Day Snacks and Treats

Let’s not forget the snacks! A great way to make Election Day even more fun is by incorporating red, white, and blue-themed snacks. Cupcakes with stars and stripes, fruit platters with patriotic colors, and even themed cookies are all fun ideas to celebrate.

Incorporating Election Day Into Homeschooling

For homeschoolers, Election Day provides a fantastic opportunity to dive into social studies lessons. Whether you’re talking about voting rights or the history of the electoral process, there are so many ways to bring the election day lessons to life at home.

Use Premade Election Day Lesson Plans

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Hosting an Election Day Party

If you really want to go all out this Election Day, why not throw an Election Day party? It’s a fun way to get everyone in the spirit while teaching the importance of voting! Invite friends, family, and neighbors over for a day filled with themed activities, games, and, of course, snacks! You can decorate with red, white, and blue or even set up a mini voting booth for kids to experience what it’s like to cast a vote.

To make it even more engaging, organize a mock election where the kids vote on fun things like who should be the family’s “president” for the day or what the special snack should be. This not only gets them excited about the voting process but also teaches them about making decisions as a group. You could even create little ballots and let them campaign for their favorite choices!

With some creativity, you can turn Election Day into a party that’s not just fun but also packed with learning opportunities. This will help kids understand the significance of voting while making it an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Family Discussions About Elections

Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation. Take the time to talk to your kids about why elections matter. Share stories about past elections, the fight for voting rights, and how every single vote shapes the future of our country. It’s a meaningful way to instill a sense of responsibility and pride in them as they grow up to be informed, thoughtful citizens. These conversations can inspire them to see voting not just as a right but as a privilege that has real impact.

Inspiring Future Voters

Teaching kids about elections doesn’t have to be complicated, and Election Day is the perfect opportunity to get them excited about the democratic process. Whether you’re setting up a mock election, creating fun crafts, or simply discussing the importance of voting, these activities can inspire our future voters and help them grow into engaged, thoughtful citizens.

class government mock election activities and worksheets for kids

If you’re ready to dive deeper and make learning about elections even more impactful, check out my Mock Election and Voting Activities for Kids unit! It’s packed with everything you need—lesson plans, vocabulary, worksheets, resources to create your own mock elections, quizzes, and more. This complete unit makes it easy to teach the ins and outs of voting in a way that’s fun and educational.

Grab your copy today and help your students become the informed voters of tomorrow! 🗳️✨ Happy Election Day!