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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Students at William McDonald school in Yellowknife were casting ballots last week in a mock election exercise called Student Vote.

The contest featured the very same federal politicians in the Western Arctic riding that their parents chose from in the real election yesterday.

Hannah Bond drops her vote into the ballot box in the lunch room at William McDonald school on Oct. 10 during Student Vote. - Ben Morgan / NNSL photo

"This is the first time that we've joined the Student Vote program and gotten the official materials and equipment to run the vote," said event organizer and teacher Amy Switzer.

"They've been amazing to work with, they've been sending us emails almost every day and the ballots arrived right when they said they would, and our volunteers set it all up and it's just been awesome."

She said the process has the students engaged in the democratic process, learning about how the government is formed.

Student Vote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that works with schools to hold mock elections. It was founded in 2003 to try to reverse the trend of low voter turnout in Canada by inspiring good habits of democratic citizenship in young Canadians. Since its inception more than 1.5 million students have participated in Student Vote.

Switzer said it was easy to sign up. She went online and filled out a few forms, she organized student volunteers for voting day and even secured local candidates to visit the school and present their platform to students and take questions.

The school's principal said participating in Student Vote teaches children about civic responsibility.

"I think they understand that selection of the government isn't something that just affects the adults but impacts their lives too," said Deborah Maguire.

She said students were eager to get involved.

"We're all pretty excited about it," said Grade 7 student Hannah Bond, "and everyone was asking who are you voting for and why are you voting for him and stuff like that - it was pretty fun," she said.

Switzer assumed the role of team leader and election returning officer. She had more than a dozen students volunteer to help her run the mock election - polling clerks, scrutineers and deputy returning officers.

"It's kind of special for us because other than Mrs. Switzer no one can touch the votes - we have to count them so I think that's pretty cool," explained 11-year-old deputy returning officer Isaiah Martin.

The vote took place in the lunchroom at William McDonald school on the morning of Oct. 10 - and visually it resembled any typical Canadian polling station identically - complete with the Elections Canada logo.

Martin won't be able to vote in an actual election for seven more years. He said the experience of voting in Student Vote has him excited about participating in a real election.

Student Vote held elections in 4,000 schools across the country. Ballot box results were scheduled for release to coincide with Canada's real federal election.