Friday, November 13, 2026
What was once a routine online vote became a hands-on lesson in democracy for Lynbrook High School students on Oct. 8, as approximately 800 ballots were cast during the school's annual student government elections.
Thanks to a $2,000 New York State United Teachers Civic Readiness Grant and a collaboration with the Nassau County Board of Elections, students had the opportunity to experience the voting process from start to finish, using official ballots, electronic poll books and voting machines.
The initiative was organized by social studies teacher and student government adviser Nicole DiBenedetto, with support from Lynbrook Teachers Association President Craig Kirchenberg.
Each year, students elect their respective class presidents, vice presidents, treasurers and secretaries, typically through Microsoft Forms. This year, however, the school transformed the election into an experience designed to mirror the process students will encounter when they become eligible to vote in public elections.
"Typically, these elections are done on a Microsoft Form, but thanks to the NYSUT grant and collaboration with the Nassau County Board of Elections, we were able to conduct them in an authentic way," DiBenedetto said.
The Board of Elections created ballots for each grade featuring the names of the candidates, which were printed by LMN Printers in Valley Stream. Bold Elections also created electronic poll books containing students' names and addresses, allowing members of Lynbrook High School's Student Government SLATE to oversee voter check-in.
SLATE officers, including the school's student government president, vice president, treasurer and secretary, checked in their classmates and distributed the appropriate ballots.
Throughout the school day, students visited the voting area during their social studies classes. After checking in, they filled out their ballots behind privacy shields before lining up to submit them through an official voting machine.
By the end of the day, 800 ballots had been submitted.
"Overall, the day was a success!" DiBenedetto said. "Students were able to walk through the voting process from start to finish, the same way they will once they turn 18 and are able to vote in a public election."
Beyond casting their votes, students also received guidance about each step of the process, helping familiarize them with procedures they may encounter when voting for the first time.
"We helped to explain the process to students as well to hopefully clear up any confusion they may have had when voting for the first time," DiBenedetto said.
The NYSUT Civic Readiness Grant was designed to support hands-on civic education opportunities that extend beyond traditional classroom instruction. Its objectives include increasing students' understanding of government and democracy, encouraging community participation and fostering civic responsibility.
For Lynbrook, the funding provided an opportunity to turn an existing school tradition into a practical lesson in civic engagement.
Ahead of the election, DiBenedetto said she hoped the experience would generate greater enthusiasm for student government and help students recognize the importance of participating in elections.
"I hope they'll see what it looks like to be an active citizen," she said at the time.
With hundreds of ballots submitted and students participating in each stage of the election, the initiative gave Lynbrook High School students an early introduction to the responsibilities of voting — years before many of them will cast their first ballots in a public election.
