Over the past few weeks, students at Lyseth Elementary School practiced being engaged citizens as they learned about the Nov. 5 election. They learned about the Maine state ballot, including the referendum question on whether Maine should have a new state flag, and about the presidential candidates and candidates for Congress. Then, on Oct. 29, the entire school participated in the Maine State Mock Election.

Run each year by the Maine Department of the Secretary of State, the Mock Election is designed to encourage young people to become interested in voting and involved in candidate campaigns and state and national issues.

Lyseth fifth-grade leaders were “poll workers” to help pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first-graders vote on the flag ballot question (the younger students circled their choice of one of the two pictures of the Maine state flag on their ballots).

Students in grades 2-5 filled out complete ballots provided by the Secretary of State to schools participating in the Mock Election. Fourth-grade leaders were vote counters. The day ended with a second- through fifth-grade assembly to announce the winners and hear from Youth Programs Coordinator Vanessa Diaz Gaumond, who runs the Mock Election for the state.

“We were all really impressed with the students, their engagement, and excitement for democracy,” said Lyseth Principal Sara Goodall.

The winners in the Lyseth Mock Election were:

President : Kamala Harris/Tim Walz, with 226 votes

U.S. Representative: Chellie Pingree, with 112 votes

U.S. Senate: Angus King, with 112 votes

“And, in a very tight race for the ballot initiative on flags, the new flag beat the old flag with 236 votes to 201!” Goodall said. “This was a great opportunity for us to talk with students about the fact that every vote counts.”

Photos: (Above) A fourth-grade vote counter at the ready during the Lyseth Elementary School Mock Election Oct. 29.

(below) A Lyseth Elementary School student gives a fellow student an "I Voted" sticker after he votes in the Maine State Mock Election Oct. 29.