Elementary school students learn firsthand about the voting process

TAMPA, Fla. – Election Day isn’t just for adults. Hillsborough Public Schools uses it as a teaching tool for students about why voting is so important.

Chiarmonte Elementary School in Tampa was one of several schools in the county participating in the Hillsborough Public Schools Mock Student Elections. These students said it is exciting to vote for the president like their parents.

On Tuesday, the school library was transformed into a polling place and third, fourth and fifth graders had the opportunity to cast their vote for the president of the United States.

Third-grader Amit Sanichara said the voting process made him feel like an adult.

“Imagine there is a big ocean and you are a small drop of water, that is a small voice,” Sanichara said.

Other students said they didn’t realize how quick and easy voting could be.

“When I went to vote today, I was very excited and nervous, but I’m done voting, and I really think I made the right choice to vote and let people know what I think,” said Sophia Strutz, a third grade student.

Assistant principal Sabrina Tshiamalenge said they started slowly, letting students vote on their favorite dessert or sweet, and worked their way up to the president.

“They feel strengthened. They feel like they have a voice too. I know this will be a story that will be told for weeks and months to come and hopefully for years to come: ‘I voted, I voted when I was in Chiarmonte’, so exciting.” Tshiamalenge said.

Many of these students did their own research on each candidate and took the responsibility of voting seriously.

“We’re fortunate that we can vote, because some countries can’t really vote,” Strutz said.

“It’s a very, very happy moment for me, very proud that they have some awareness and understanding that they know what is happening in the world, and that it has affected not only them, but the whole country,” Tshiamalenge said.

Perhaps the highlight of the day was receiving their “I am a future voter” sticker on the way back to class.