PCTI and STEM Academy prepare students for lessons in civic duty.

The use of authentic voting machines was the highlight of the day at PCTI and STEM Academy as lines of students prepared to cast their homecoming ballots. With the assistance of the Passaic County Board of Elections, the PCTVS administration brought genuine voting booths to campus, a lesson for students to see first-hand how to vote and the importance of the process. The teaching experience was filled with excitement as students began casting their ballot for homecoming court, many of them using real voting machines for the first time. As in a real election the students walked in to register themselves for their vote, once registered each student was given a ballot and then given the opportunity to cast their vote behind the curtain. Students smiled and laughed as they walked receiving the recognizable ‘I voted’ sticker they proudly stamped on themselves.

“I believe that the homecoming vote experience was a great way for PCTI to support and educate students in learning more about their civic right to vote,” said PCTI principal, Antonio Garcia. “This year, we had the ability to collaborate with the Passaic County Board of Elections to give our students an authentic voting experience before becoming registered voters and voting in real-world elections. Students were excited and eager to learn about the voting process and use real-world voting machines. This was a win-win for students, PCTI, and the Passaic County Board of Elections.”

In preparation for the big days of voting, PCTVS administrators received training by the Passaic County Board of Elections. Through demonstrations and hands-on training, the staff were taught how to properly use the machines to make voting days fun and easy for the students. On voting day, they were readily available to assist student voters in casting their ballots.

“By participating with the Passaic County Superintendent of Elections Office, we were able to provide students with the most authentic voting experience they could have. It is our hope that by providing students with this experience they are more willing to participate in the voting process moving forward,” said STEM principal, Joaquim Johnson.

As many students this year, and in years to come will register to vote and be able to participate in the voting process, the PCTVS voting days focused on giving the students the real-world experience while teaching them the importance of voting and acknowledging its responsibility as part of their civic duty.

A special thanks to the Passaic County Board of Elections and Board Superintendent Ms. Shona Mack-Pollack for helping to make the days of voting a total success.